Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, long known for her incendiary rhetoric and unwavering loyalty to former President Donald Trump, has taken a dramatic—and, some say, surprising—turn in her political journey. Over the past week, Greene has publicly apologized for her role in fueling toxic politics and signaled a desire to chart a new path, even as her alliance with Trump publicly unravels. The shift has drawn intense scrutiny and skepticism from media commentators, fellow politicians, and the public alike.
On Sunday, November 17, 2025, Greene appeared on CNN’s State of the Union with Dana Bash, where she addressed her strained relationship with Trump, recent threats against her, and her own role in the country’s increasingly heated political climate. "I would like to say, humbly, I’m sorry for taking part in the toxic politics; it’s very bad for our country," Greene told Bash, as reported by CNN. She continued, "It’s been something I’ve thought about a lot, especially since Charlie Kirk was assassinated." Greene said she has spent recent weeks reflecting on the threats and vitriol she has helped normalize, adding, "I’m only responsible for myself and my own words and actions … and I’ve been working on this a lot lately, to put down the knives in politics. I really want to just see people be kind to one another."
This introspective tone marks a stark departure from the Greene who, just a few years ago, made headlines for spreading conspiracy theories—including the infamous claim about wildfires started by Jewish space lasers—and for her combative style with both Democrats and Republicans. Early in her first term, Greene lost her committee assignments after CNN revealed she had shown support for Facebook posts advocating violence against Democrats. She was expelled from the House Freedom Caucus in 2023 after a series of internal disputes and has often feuded with colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
Yet, Greene insists she is done with that chapter. "America needs a new path forward and leaders willing to come together and end all the toxic, dangerous rhetoric and divide," she told CNN. "I’m leading the way with my own example, and I hope that President Trump can do the same."
Her recent appearance on ABC’s The View also seemed to signal a softer approach, with the panel reportedly impressed by her demeanor—a notable shift for a lawmaker who once relished her role as Capitol Hill’s chaos agent.
But not everyone is buying Greene’s rebrand. On MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough, himself a former Southern Baptist, welcomed Greene’s apology, drawing on his faith’s emphasis on forgiveness. "I’ve said so many stupid things through the years that, you know, I would ask and have asked forgiveness for," Scarborough admitted. "When I hear that from somebody, anybody, I’m sorry. … Let’s actually embrace this and hope it sticks." Mika Brzezinski echoed the sentiment, saying, "I’m here for it."
Over on CNN This Morning, however, the response was far more skeptical. Host Audie Cornish highlighted Greene’s history of conspiracy theories and antagonism, noting her past headlines included spreading misinformation about mass shootings and the Jewish space lasers trope. CNN media analyst Sara Fischer was blunt: "If you make your entire political career off of having knives out for people and conspiracies, and now it’s all about having empathy and tissues, people don’t respond well to that." Fischer suggested Greene’s rebrand isn’t going "super well," especially as polling in Georgia raises questions about her political future.
Author Garrett Graff, speaking on the same CNN segment, was even more critical. "I think this is the most opportunistic of the opportunists in American politics, sensing that the opportunities have changed," Graff said. He pointed to Trump’s historic lows with independents and swing voters, predicting, "He is going to be out of office in a couple of years at this point, one way or another. And I think Marjorie Taylor Greene is not setting herself up for anything like the Senate or governorship. She is setting herself up to be the leader after Trump."
So, what’s behind Greene’s sudden change of heart? Some observers believe it’s fear—plain and simple. In her CNN interview, Greene revealed that Trump’s recent attacks against her have had real-world consequences. "The most hurtful thing [Trump] said, which is absolutely untrue, is he called me a traitor, and that is so extremely wrong," she told Bash. "Those are the types of words used that can radicalize people against me and put my life in danger." Greene claimed that Trump’s words may have triggered a pipe-bomb threat at her construction company’s office and a series of hoax pizza deliveries. She wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "President Trump’s unwarranted and vicious attacks against me were a dog whistle to dangerous radicals that could lead to serious attacks on me and my family."
Trump, for his part, has shown no signs of backing down. Over the weekend, he blasted Greene on Truth Social as "Wacky Marjorie Traitor Brown" and signaled support for a primary challenger, insisting, "All I see ‘Wacky’ Marjorie do is COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN!" Greene, meanwhile, has defended her record, noting her "one of the most conservative" voting histories in Congress and her commitment to upholding the Constitution. "I love America and the American people, and I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and always do so. I am not a traitor," she wrote.
Greene has also distanced herself from GOP leadership, criticizing the party’s handling of the recent government shutdown, which ended just days before her CNN appearance. She has cast herself as a truth-teller in a party she believes is unwilling to confront its own dysfunction. During the shutdown, she questioned the GOP’s lack of a health care plan and expressed determination for the release of Epstein-related files, scheduled for a House vote shortly after her interview.
Despite her efforts to strike a conciliatory tone, Greene remains a lightning rod for controversy. In her CNN interview, she defended Tucker Carlson’s decision to interview white supremacist Nick Fuentes, saying, "I think it’s important for people like Tucker Carlson and yourself to interview everyone. I don’t believe in trying to cancel someone by refusing to interview them and question them."
Whether Greene’s reinvention will stick—or whether it’s a calculated move to survive a shifting political landscape—remains an open question. What’s clear is that the former Trump loyalist now finds herself in a precarious position, caught between her own past, a fracturing GOP, and a base that may not be ready to forgive, forget, or follow her down a new path.
As the dust settles, Greene’s journey serves as a case study in the risks and rewards of political reinvention in the age of hyperpartisanship—and a reminder that, in American politics, yesterday’s allies can quickly become today’s adversaries.
