Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Georgia Republican who rose as a fierce Trump ally and in recent months became one of his most outspoken critics, announced she will leave Congress effective Jan. 5, 2026.
In an almost 11-minute video, Greene sharply criticized House leadership, the Republican Party and the early start of campaign season, saying the rush to politicking discourages lawmakers from taking bold stands. She framed her departure as a protest against what she called a party that has drifted from its original MAGA and America First principles.
The split with former President Donald Trump widened over his second-term agenda and, most prominently, his handling of files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Greene said standing up for “American women who were raped at 14” and exploited by powerful men should not result in being labeled a traitor or facing threats from a president she once backed. She described Trump’s initial resistance and eventual decision to release Epstein-related records as the breaking point.
Greene also said it would be unfair to force her into what she characterized as a punitive primary challenge in her staunchly conservative northwest Georgia district—one she said would be “hurtful and hateful” if driven by Trump. She warned that the party risks losing ground in the midterms if internal divisions persist and rejected sitting out the conflict, saying she would not remain passive in hopes things improve.
Her resignation adds to a wave of departures: roughly 40 House members and about 10 senators have said they will not seek returns in 2026. Greene’s exit will likely prompt a special election in the spring to fill the remainder of her term.
The break illustrates growing fissures in the MAGA coalition. Disagreements over foreign policy—responses to Iran, the U.S. posture on Israel’s war in Gaza—and economic measures like tariffs have driven recurring rifts. Greene has portrayed her criticism as ideological consistency and attacked what she called a “political industrial complex” that profits from partisan anger.
Republicans and Trump are confronting recent electoral setbacks and economic challenges that have exposed strains within the party, prompting questions about its direction in a post-Trump era.