Marjorie Taylor Greene could have led the anti-Trump resistance but the mob boss got his way | Marjorie Taylor Greene
It’s been a dizzying 48 hours in Washington. Liberal TV host Rachel Maddow attended the funeral of conservative vice president Dick Cheney. Donald Trump embraced democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, who would become New York’s first Muslim mayor, like a brother.
And then the political establishment was once again stunned by Trump aide-turned-foe Marjorie Taylor Greene, who outmaneuvered Trump over the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The maga star suddenly announced that he was leaving the House of Representatives at what was supposed to be his victory hour.
Everyone looked surprised, but one man was very happy. “I think this is great news for the country.” Trump told ABC News. “Great.”
It was also great news for a president who was having the worst month of his second term. Trump’s approval rating is in free fall. Democrats achieved victory in the elections. Unthinkably, even the Republican party is challenging him by challenging him on the Epstein files, the Senate filibuster, and congressional redistricting in Indiana.
They know that every day moves Trump a little further away from an epic comeback victory in 2024 and a little closer to an epic comeback victory in 2024. the situation of the lame duck. Watching the spotlight and cameras shift from the Oval Office to his would-be successors may be too much for him to bear.
But Greene’s departure suggests that this may all be wishful thinking for now. In one timeline, he could have used Epstein’s win as the basis for anti-Trump resistance within Republican ranks. The Party has spent the last decade demonstrating that cowardice is contagious; perhaps so will the courage to reassert congressional autonomy.
It wasn’t supposed to happen. Instead, Greene follows fellow dissidents Liz Cheney, Bob Corker, Jeff Flake and Adam Kinzinger as they head for the exit. Trump has presided over the homogenization of the Republican party: You either stick with him or you leave. He drives out the opposition with the fear and intimidation tactics of a mafia boss.
Trump’s support could make a big difference in the Republican primaries that determine which candidate runs for Congress. He endorsed Cheney’s challenger in Wyoming, and Cheney was duly removed from office. Tired of Greene’s indie streak, he called his “crazy”He accused her of going “far left” and promised to support her primary opponent “if the right person gets the nomination.”
Greene could enter the Georgia primary and perhaps win. But it would take place in a toxic and violent political environment. He says Trump’s insults have already led to unsolicited pizza deliveries, fake emergency calls and death threats. He gave his opponents too many reasons not to run.
Announcing her decision, Greene said: “I have too much self-respect and dignity, I love my family too much, and I don’t want my sweet district to have to endure a hurtful and hateful primary against me from the president we fought for, just to fight and win my election while the Republicans will probably lose the midterms. I refuse to be a battered wife hoping it all ends and gets better.”
The “battered wife” image is here to stay, especially in light of Trump’s recent misogynistic outbursts and those who defend them.
Greene, 51, did not specify what she would do next in her resignation speech. Her sudden split from Trump led to speculation that she was planning her own presidential run in 2028, although she denied “baseless rumors”.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if MTG runs for president as a right-wing independent in 2028,” Democratic congressman Jamie Raskin told the Axios news site on Friday.
kinzinger Said on the Bulwark podcast: “I give him some credit, I mean, he could see the tea leaves, which is like if I want to run for president or governor or some other nomination, Trump is going – I might be the old crazy, which is normal now. Being honest with you isn’t a bad tactic because you’ll keep your reputation in the eyes of the crazy people.”
When it comes to craziness, Greene used to be most famous for supporting it. death penalty to him opponents are blocking Joe Biden’s State of the Union address and theorizing that the wildfire was caused by a space laser controlled by a Jewish banking family. HE In 2019, he argued that Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, both Muslim women, were not “official” members of Congress because they used the Quran instead of the Bible at their swearing-in ceremonies.
But last week marked a transformation on the road to Damascus. Greene told CNN she was “sorry for participating in the toxic policies” of recent years and acknowledged it was “very bad for our country.” Does this mean that he will now be on the side of kindness, tolerance and building bridges? If so, the tragedy is that it will happen anywhere but Washington.
