US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene shocked Washington on Friday by announcing she will resign from Congress in January, ending her once-close alliance with President Donald Trump. The Georgia Republican, long considered a MAGA firebrand and a favorite of Trump’s base, said she refuses to be a “battered wife” in a political relationship that has turned increasingly hostile.
Her departure marks a dramatic political reversal. Greene once championed Trump’s “America First” agenda and stood among his most loyal defenders. But tensions between the two leaders escalated in recent months, especially after Greene backed efforts to force the release of government files linked to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — a move Trump strongly opposed. Their fracture deepened further over policy disagreements and the president’s growing criticism of her actions.
A Growing Divide Within MAGA Before the Midterms
In a 10-minute video posted on social media, Greene said she was motivated to step down partly to avoid a bruising primary battle against a Trump-backed challenger. She expressed concern that Republicans could lose the House in the upcoming midterm elections, potentially leaving her re-elected but powerless in a Democratic-controlled chamber.
“I have too much self-respect and dignity,” Greene said, adding that she would not force her district to endure a “hurtful and hateful” primary fueled by Trump’s attacks. She also complained that Congress had been “sidelined” since Trump returned to office in January, offering little ability to address major national problems.
Trump responded swiftly to her announcement, telling ABC News that Greene’s resignation is “great news for the country.”
Greene lamented the disconnect between Washington and ordinary Americans, stressing that families feel overwhelmed by soaring rents, grocery bills, debt, and housing costs. She said voters know “exactly how much their own bills have gone up,” yet see “no solutions” from either party.
Her exit further heightens Republican anxiety about party unity. With Greene gone, the GOP majority will shrink to 218 seats against Democrats’ 213 — a razor-thin margin that leaves Republicans vulnerable. The Senate, meanwhile, remains 53–47 under GOP control.
Accusations, Epstein Vote, and Final Break With Trump
The public feud intensified after Greene supported releasing Epstein-related documents despite Trump’s objections. The president labeled her a “traitor,” a “disgrace,” and a “ranting lunatic” as he withdrew his endorsement.
Greene defended her vote vigorously in her resignation video. “Standing up for American women who were raped at 14… should not result in me being called a traitor,” she said. She noted that loyalty “should be a two-way street,” pointedly criticizing Trump without naming him directly.
Some Republicans applauded her decision. Representative Thomas Massie praised her as a “true representative,” while former GOP congresswoman Barbara Comstock said Greene was right to reject “Trump’s abuse.”
Greene won her district with 64% of the vote in 2024, and many local residents recently expressed hope the feud with Trump would heal. But Greene made clear she would not engage in a primary battle against a Trump-approved challenger. Even if she survived such a contest, she said, she would likely land in the minority and spend her time defending Trump in impeachment proceedings — a scenario she called “absurd.”
She ended her announcement with a warning: if MAGA replaces her with establishment-aligned forces, then “many common Americans have been cast aside and replaced as well.”
