Former Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has criticised President Donald Trump after a Democrat won a special election for a Florida statehouse district that includes Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. Democrat Emily Gregory defeated Trump-endorsed Republican Jon Maples in Tuesday's election for Florida House District 87, a seat previously held by a Republican who won by a wide margin in 2024.
Greene took to social media to blame Trump for the loss, writing: 'Turning your back on your campaign promises, and many disgusting behaviors like calling one of your top allies “traitor” for releasing the Epstein files and refusing to go along with MIGA, apparently has consequences. 26 is gone but keep putting Americans last and 28 will be too.' Trump has repeatedly called Greene a 'traitor' since their public falling out last year, which led to Greene resigning from Congress.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle responded, saying Greene 'quit on her constituents and the America First movement in the middle of her term.' Ingle added: 'President Trump is fighting every single day to Make America Great Again – we don’t have time for quitters.'
Greene also highlighted that Democrats have flipped several state legislature seats in special elections over the past year. She wrote: 'I’d also like to remind everyone that when I led the party on the campaign trail fighting for America First in “22 and “24, all the GOP did was win win win. But after Trump called me a traitor and said he would destroy me for releasing the Epstein files, I refuse to fight for Trump and the Republican Party that defends the Epstein class, wages pointless foreign wars, and pursues America LAST.'
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said Gregory's win shows Democrats can compete anywhere, while the DNC called it an 'earth-shattering victory.' Gregory, a first-time lawmaker with a public health background, said she focused on everyday issues like the affordability crisis, rather than the president.
