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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announced her resignation from Congress effective January 5, marking a dramatic split with President Trump that has exposed deep divisions within the MAGA movement just a year before crucial midterm elections. Greene, once one of Trump’s most vocal supporters, cited her falling out with the president as the reason for stepping down, though she insisted she could win re-election.
The rift between Greene and Trump intensified over recent months as she grew frustrated with the Republican-led Congress’s focus on foreign policy while Americans struggled with rising costs, particularly in healthcare. The breaking point came when Greene supported releasing government files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, putting her at odds with Trump, who had long opposed their release. In response, Trump withdrew his support and threatened to back a primary challenger against her.
In her resignation video, Greene defended her record as a steadfast Trump supporter and America First advocate. She argued that loyalty should be reciprocal and that representatives should be able to vote their conscience. “Standing up for American women who were raped at 14, trafficked and used by rich powerful men, should not result in me being called a traitor and threatened by the President of the United States, whom I fought for,” she said.
Greene also stated she has “too much self-respect” to face a Trump-backed primary challenge and then potentially defend him against impeachment if Republicans lose the House. “I refuse to be a ’battered wife’ hoping it all goes away and gets better,” she declared.
Trump celebrated her departure, calling it “great news for the country.” On Truth Social, he referred to her as “Marjorie ’Traitor’ Brown,” mistakenly using the wrong surname, and claimed she quit to avoid losing a primary to his endorsed candidate.
Greene’s resignation has sparked speculation about her political future, including possible runs for the U.S. Senate, Georgia governor, or even the 2028 presidential race. However, she dismissed a Time magazine report about a White House bid as a “complete lie,” saying she never wanted to run for president.
Congressional reaction was mixed. Sen. Rand Paul expressed sadness at losing her independent voice, while Rep. Jasmine Crockett criticized Greene for being unable to handle opposition after just one week of disagreeing with Trump. Rep. Jamie Raskin even suggested Greene would be welcome in the Democratic Party’s “big tent” if she wanted to defend the Constitution.
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