Former US President Donald Trump has publicly welcomed the resignation of his former ally, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, branding it 'great news for the country' in his first reaction to her departure.
A Public Parting of Ways
The political rift between the two figures became starkly evident when Trump, speaking to ABC News, showed no interest in reconciling with the Georgia Republican. He confirmed that Greene had not contacted him before announcing her decision to step down. 'Nah, it doesn't matter, you know but I think it's great. I think she should be happy,' Trump remarked, adding that while he had no plans to speak with her, he wished her well.
This public fallout follows Greene's ten-minute video statement released earlier on Friday, where she openly criticised the former president for potentially endorsing a primary challenger in her district. She expressed that she did not want her constituents 'to have to endure a hurtful and hateful primary against me by the president we all fought for.'
The Breakdown of a Political Alliance
The dissolution of their alliance marks a notable fissure within the conservative movement. The relationship soured in recent months as Greene publicly challenged Trump on several fronts, including his handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, foreign policy, and healthcare.
In response, Trump labelled her a 'traitor' and 'wacky', vowing to back a challenger in her next election campaign. Greene's decision to resign rather than face a Trump-endorsed opponent places her alongside numerous other establishment Republicans who have found themselves at odds with the former president.
In her resignation video, Greene underscored her longstanding loyalty to Trump but defended her right to independent thought. 'Loyalty should be a two-way street and we should be able to vote our conscience and represent our district's interest, because our job title is literally 'representative',' she stated, calling his attacks 'unfair and wrong'.
