On Friday, Nov. 14, President Donald Trump ignited a political firestorm by publicly denouncing one of his most loyal allies, U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. Posting on Truth Social, his personal media platform, Trump announced he was withdrawing his support for Greene, listing his own achievements in office and labeling her a “ranting lunatic,” and accusing her of veering “far left.” After Trump’s statements, Greene alleged that Trump and his supporters are engaging in harassment and putting her and her family at risk.
What set off this stunning feud between the President and one of his staunch supporters? According to The Guardian, the controversy centers on mounting national pressure to release the Jeffrey Epstein Files. Since Trump reassumed the presidency in January, the political landscape has been rocked by questions surrounding his ties to Epstein, one of the world’s most infamous sex traffickers and child sex offenders. The Epstein Files refer to the trove of documents tied to the ongoing criminal investigation into Epstein’s activities.
This year, a wave of politicians joined the movement demanding the release of the Epstein Files, with Greene among the most vocal. The Guardian reported that Trump’s scathing rebuke of the Georgia lawmaker came shortly after she publicly condemned his refusal to greenlight the release of the files. The Guardian also reported that Greene argued that Trump should focus less on shielding the Epstein Files and more on fixing America’s financial and healthcare woes, and that she questioned whether any effort should be spent blocking the disclosure of the files at all. In an interview with CBS, Greene insisted that her push for transparency is about delivering closure and justice for the victims, and she believes Americans deserve to know the truth. She maintains that Trump’s name appearing in the files does not implicate him in criminal wrongdoing.
Amid the escalating feud, Greene reported a wave of harassment — including death and bomb threats — which she attributed to Trump’s public withdrawal of support, claiming his actions are endangering her life. Trump was quick to dismiss her fears, stating, “I don’t think her life is in danger. I don’t think, frankly, I don’t think anybody cares about her.”
Yet, over the weekend, Trump abruptly reversed his stance, shifting from strong opposition to full support for the release, even vowing to sign off on it. On Tuesday, Nov. 18, Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in a landslide 427-1 vote. By Wednesday, Trump had signed the bill into law, giving the Department of Justice one month to make all related information public. The dramatic about-face was likely fueled by mounting national pressure, relentless political turmoil, demands from victims, and growing calls from fellow Republican lawmakers.
Standing alongside Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie during a press conference ahead of the bill’s passage, Greene did not hold back.
“I was called a traitor by a man that I fought for five, no, actually, six years for. And I gave him my loyalty for free. I’ve never owed him anything, but I fought for him for the policies and for America First,” Greene said. “A patriot is an American that serves the United States of America and Americans, like the women standing behind me,” she declared, underscoring her unwavering commitment to her principles.