Former President Donald Trump says he is pulling his backing from Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a onetime close ally, calling her “wacky” and a “lunatic” and alleging that all she does is “complain.”
Why It Matters
The clash between Trump and Greene is exposing widening fractures inside the Republican Party over priorities, messaging and how to handle politically explosive issues.
Their dispute touches on government transparency in the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, whether Republicans should focus more on foreign or domestic policy, and how the GOP positions itself heading into the 2026 midterm elections. The fallout could affect party unity, Trump’s influence over Republican lawmakers and the tone of conservative outreach to voters.
What To Know
The feud intensified after Greene publicly criticized what she viewed as Trump’s reluctance to fully support releasing files tied to Epstein, the financier and convicted sex offender who died in a New York City jail in 2019.
Greene has joined a bipartisan push in the House to force a vote requiring the Epstein records to be made public. In an interview with CBS Mornings on Friday, she questioned Trump’s approach, saying in part, “I think it’s a huge miscalculation, and I truly just stand with the women, and I think they deserve to be the ones that we’re fighting for.”
Trump, for his part, has tried to reframe the issue, dismissing renewed focus on Epstein as the “Jeffrey Epstein Hoax.” On Truth Social, he argued that “the Democrats are trying to bring up the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax again because they’ll do anything at all to deflect on how badly they’ve done on the Shutdown, and so many other subjects. Only a very bad, or stupid, Republican would fall into that trap.”
He also announced a Justice Department investigation, led by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, into alleged links between Epstein and prominent Democrats.
In a lengthy new post on Truth Social, Trump declared:
“I am withdrawing my support and Endorsement of ‘Congresswoman’ Marjorie Taylor Greene, of the Great State of Georgia. Over the past few weeks, despite my creating Record Achievements for our Country including, a Total and Complete Victory on the Shutdown, Closed Borders, Low Taxes, No Men in Women’s Sports or Transgender for Everyone, ending DEI, stopping Biden’s Record Setting Inflation, Biggest Regulation Cuts in History, stopping EIGHT WARS, rebuilding our Military, being RESPECTED by every Country in the World (as opposed to being the laughingstock that we were just 12 months ago!), having Trillions of Dollars (Record Setting!) INVESTED in the U.S.A., and having created the ‘HOTTEST’ Country anywhere in the World from being a DEAD Country just 12 months ago (and so much more!), all I see ‘Wacky’ Marjorie do is COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN!”
Trump went on to say the tension appeared to begin when he sent Greene internal polling suggesting she should not run for senator or governor:
“It seemed to all begin when I sent her a Poll stating that she should not run for Senator, or Governor, she was at 12%, and didn’t have a chance (unless, of course, she had my Endorsement — which she wasn’t about to get!). She has told many people that she is upset that I don’t return her phone calls anymore, but with 219 Congressmen/women, 53 U.S. Senators, 24 Cabinet Members, almost 200 Countries, and an otherwise normal life to lead, I can’t take a ranting Lunatic’s call every day. I understand that wonderful, Conservative people are thinking about primarying Marjorie in her District of Georgia, that they too are fed up with her and her antics and, if the right person runs, they will have my Complete and Unyielding Support. She has gone Far Left, even doing The View, with their Low IQ Republican hating Anchors. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
When asked Friday night aboard Air Force One whether he would back a primary challenger against Greene, Trump said in part:
“Well, it depends on who runs against her. I mean, I’m no longer much of a fan because I disagree with her policy. When she said that you know, going to foreign countries, bringing back trillions of dollars, is not important, you think I want to go and be on an airplane for 20 hours, some of you were with me, 22 hours to be exact, travel and then get off and make a speech. Get people to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in our country, I’d rather do it without having to go, but if you didn’t go, you wouldn’t be able to have that kind of result.”
Greene’s Response
Asked for comment Friday night, Greene’s office shared her response posted on X. She wrote:
“President Trump just attacked me and lied about me. I haven’t called him at all, but I did send these text messages today. Apparently this is what sent him over the edge. The Epstein files.”
Greene accused Trump of trying to “make an example” of her:
The president is “coming after” her, she said, in an attempt to “make an example to scare all the other Republicans before next weeks vote to release the Epstein files.”
She continued that it was “astonishing really how hard he’s fighting to stop the Epstein files from coming out that he actually goes to this level,” while emphasizing that she has invested “too much of my precious time, too much of my own money,” and “fought harder for him even when almost all other Republicans turned their back and denounced him.”
Greene added that her loyalty has limits:
“But I don’t worship or serve Donald Trump.”
She said instead that she worships God and serves her constituents and the American people.
What People Are Saying
On X, Greene reiterated her focus on the Epstein victims and on transparency:
“Many of the victims of Jeffrey Epstein were abused as teenagers. And this information should have come out a long time ago! The American people deserve full transparency into who was involved in these horrific acts. I believe the victims. They along with their attorneys have told me numerous times that President Trump is NOT implicated in this. I stand with these women and all victims of sexual abuse. It is a shame our government is working harder to protect pedophiles than they are fighting for the victims! These women deserve our fight!!”
Trump, meanwhile, has continued defending his record and criticizing Greene’s policy positions and media appearances, pointing to her decision to appear on The View as evidence she has “gone Far Left.”
What Happens Next
The House of Representatives is slated to vote on a bill that would require the Justice Department to release all files related to the Epstein investigation. The measure has the support of Greene and other lawmakers, and House Speaker Mike Johnson has committed to bringing it to the floor.
The outcome of that vote—and how Republicans align themselves with either Trump or Greene on the broader question of transparency and party priorities—could shape internal GOP dynamics well beyond the Epstein files themselves.
