Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia is now reportedly defending her independence within the Republican Party after facing backlash from colleagues over her recent breaks with GOP leadership on issues ranging from government spending to the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
“There’s a lot of weak Republican men, and they’re more afraid of strong Republican women,” Greene told The Washington Post in an interview published Tuesday. “So they always try to marginalize the strong Republican women that actually want to do something and actually want to achieve.”
Greene’s remarks come amid renewed tension within the Republican ranks as lawmakers struggle to project unity ahead of next year’s elections. Known for her outspoken approach and loyalty to her constituents, Greene has refused to fall in line with what she views as complacent leadership. “My district knows I ran for Congress trashing Republicans,” she said. “They voted for me because they agreed with that. My district’s not surprised.”
The congresswoman recently criticized her party’s handling of health care policy, particularly the lapse in Affordable Care Act premium subsidies. She also joined a bipartisan resolution demanding that the Justice Department release Epstein-related files, a move that has angered some GOP colleagues but resonated with voters frustrated by government secrecy.
Greene’s willingness to challenge party orthodoxy has made her a lightning rod for criticism — and, unexpectedly, a source of praise from across the aisle. “It does seem to many of us that she’s had a surprisingly enlightened few weeks,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York during an appearance on MSNBC. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed similar sentiments.
Some Republicans, however, accuse Greene of drifting away from President Donald Trump, whose political instincts and combative style she has long admired. “Whether it’s Gaza, whether it’s Epstein, or whether it’s now the ACA credits, she’s been 180 degrees opposite of Trump,” one House Republican said. “In fact, she’s been more Biden than she has been Trump.”
Greene rejects that characterization, insisting she remains firmly aligned with the America First agenda. She drew a sharp contrast between Trump’s leadership and what she sees as weakness among some GOP lawmakers. “Whereas President Trump has a very strong, dominant style — he’s not weak at all — a lot of the men here in the House are weak,” she said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson downplayed the internal rift, saying Sunday that he and Greene had a “cordial” conversation about the ACA subsidies after previously suggesting she was unfamiliar with the party’s health care strategy. “There are many Republicans in Congress that have been working around the clock on this,” Johnson told Shannon Bream on Fox News Sunday. He added that the party has “hundreds” of proposals to lower costs, expand access, and improve quality.
Greene’s critics may view her as a political disruptor, but she has made clear that her defiance is deliberate — a reflection of her belief that the GOP must rediscover its will to fight. “I actually want to do something and actually want to achieve,” she said. For Greene, that means challenging not just Democrats, but a Republican establishment she believes has grown too timid to lead.
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