On October 14, 2025, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene once again found herself in the national spotlight, but this time for reasons that have left both her allies and critics scratching their heads. The Georgia congresswoman, long known for her unwavering loyalty to former President Donald Trump and her incendiary rhetoric, has recently taken a series of public stances that seem to defy her established reputation—and have sparked new debates about the future of women in Republican leadership, party unity, and the ongoing government shutdown.
In a candid interview with The Washington Post and in other recent public comments, Greene sharply criticized what she called “weak Republican men” in Congress, singling out House Speaker Mike Johnson and others for holding back strong female lawmakers. “Whereas President Trump has a very strong, dominant style—he’s not weak at all—a lot of the men here in the House are weak,” Greene declared, as reported by The Washington Post. “There’s a lot of weak Republican men and they’re more afraid of strong Republican women. So they always try to marginalize the strong Republican women that actually want to do something and actually want to achieve.”
This pointed critique wasn’t just abstract rhetoric. Greene specifically referenced her own experiences and those of Rep. Elise Stefanik, who, after being considered for the role of U.N. ambassador, saw her nomination pulled and was given what Greene described as “some honorary bulls*** role” by Speaker Johnson. “It was unbelievably insulting,” Greene told the Daily Mail. “She gets shafted, he gets rewarded. She’s a woman so it was OK to do that to her somehow.”
Greene’s frustration with the current GOP leadership runs deeper than simple personality clashes. She contrasted Johnson’s approach to that of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, whom she credited with elevating female leaders in the party. Under Johnson, only one woman, Rep. Lisa C. McClain, holds a top GOP leadership position, and there is just one female committee chair—down from three in the previous Congress. Greene argued that this shift represents a “night and day” difference in how women are treated at the highest levels of the party.
But Greene’s recent moves haven’t been limited to gender politics. In a series of surprising policy positions, she has broken with her party on key issues, most notably by siding with Democrats on the extension of health care subsidies in the budget bill at the heart of the government shutdown. According to NewsOne, Greene has refrained from echoing the usual Republican talking points about Democrats pushing for “free healthcare for undocumented migrants,” and instead has focused on the need to address rising health care costs for all Americans.
“The toothpaste (Obamacare - ACA) is out of the tube. Trying to make it clear that I think the entire system is messed up. Health insurance is vastly unaffordable for all Americans especially since the cost of living has sky rocketed in the past 4 1/2 years,” Greene wrote in an October 7 post on X, as cited by The Independent. She’s engaged with figures like Mark Cuban on the platform, amplifying her message that neither party has adequately addressed the issue.
Her willingness to buck her party has extended to other high-profile issues as well. Greene is one of only a handful of Republicans—each of them women—supporting Rep. Thomas Massie’s discharge petition to force the release of the remaining Jeffrey Epstein files. “I think for a few of us ... me, Nancy Mace, and Lauren Boebert, it’s such a disgusting issue that we’re like, we don’t care if we get attacked,” Greene told the Daily Mail. She suggested that her male colleagues avoid the issue because they “don’t want to get yelled at by the president” or by Speaker Johnson. The White House has labeled support for Massie’s petition a “hostile act,” underscoring the political risks involved.
Greene’s criticisms have not been met without pushback. Rep. Lisa McClain, the sole woman in GOP leadership, responded to Greene’s remarks in The Washington Post: “Speaker Johnson has empowered women by treating them—and all members—with the respect they have earned. He believes in merit, not identity politics, which has allowed countless women to serve alongside him and advise him.”
Despite her vocal support for women’s advancement, Greene has also distanced herself from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. “I want to earn my position,” she said, emphasizing that she never became a minority contractor when she owned a construction business. This stance, while resonating with some in her base, has drawn criticism from those who point to her history of racially charged remarks toward Democratic congresswomen of color, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett. According to NewsOne, Greene has previously referred to Democratic women of color as the “Jihad Squad” and made microaggressive comments about their appearances—actions for which critics argue she has yet to atone.
On immigration, Greene has again broken with her party’s hardline stance. Speaking on the Tim Dillon Show, she expressed skepticism about the Trump administration’s mass deportation plan: “It needs to be a smarter plan than just rounding up every single person and deporting them just like that. I’m going to get pushback for that, but I’m just living in reality from here on out. If anyone’s mad at me for saying the truth, then I’m sorry.”
These moves have prompted speculation about Greene’s motivations. Is she rebranding herself as a maverick in response to shifting political winds, or is she simply adopting a new strategy to maintain her relevance? Greene insists her district supports her anti-establishment approach. “My district knows I ran for Congress trashing Republicans,” she told The Washington Post. “They voted for me because they agreed with that. My district’s not surprised.”
Yet, for all her talk of transformation, Greene’s critics remain unconvinced. As NewsOne put it, “She’s not showing us a transformation; she’s just working a new political angle. That’s it and that’s all.” Skeptics argue that her recent gestures toward bipartisanship and women’s empowerment are undercut by her ongoing support for Trump and a record of inflammatory remarks. They note that even as she denounces sexism within the GOP, she continues to praise Trump—who has been accused of sexual misconduct and has a history of disparaging comments about women.
Meanwhile, the government shutdown grinds on, with Republicans and Democrats at loggerheads over health care subsidies and spending priorities. Greene’s willingness to break ranks on these issues has added yet another layer of complexity to the negotiations, as House leadership struggles to maintain party unity in the face of mounting public frustration.
As the dust settles from her latest round of public statements, one thing is clear: Marjorie Taylor Greene remains a force to be reckoned with in the House GOP, whether as a provocateur, a critic, or a would-be reformer. Her future, and the future of women in Republican leadership, hangs in the balance as the party grapples with its identity and its path forward.
