In a dramatic turn that’s sent shockwaves through the Republican Party, U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly severed ties with Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former stalwart of his Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. The fallout, which erupted in mid-November 2025, has not only exposed deepening fissures within the party but also underscored the growing influence of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal as a political fault line ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
On November 15, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to denounce Greene, calling her “Wacky Marjorie,” a “lightweight,” and a “traitor” to the Republican Party. The president’s rebuke was swift and unrelenting, with Trump declaring he would endorse a challenger against Greene in the next year’s midterms if “the right person runs,” according to CBC News. The once-close allies now find themselves on opposite sides of a bitter public feud—one with implications far beyond their own careers.
Greene, a three-term member of the House and once the face of MAGA loyalty—she famously wore the signature red cap to President Joe Biden’s 2024 State of the Union address—has in recent months charted a more independent course. She’s openly criticized Republican leadership during the federal government shutdown, called for new healthcare solutions for Americans losing insurance subsidies, and, perhaps most explosively, joined a small group of Republicans pressing for the full release of files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“I am now being contacted by private security firms with warnings for my safety as a hot bed of threats against me are being fueled and egged on by the most powerful man in the world,” Greene wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on November 16. She added, “As a woman I take threats from men seriously. I now have a small understanding of the fear and pressure the women, who are victims of Jeffrey Epstein and his cabal, must feel.” (AFP)
The Epstein files have become a lightning rod within the GOP. Greene was one of just four Republicans to join all House Democrats in signing a petition to force a vote compelling the Justice Department to release all remaining documents related to the Epstein investigation, as reported by The Independent. Trump aides reportedly scrambled to convince other Republicans, including Rep. Lauren Boebert and Rep. Nancy Mace, to withdraw their support for the petition—going so far as to meet with Boebert in the White House Situation Room, according to Reuters. Their efforts failed, signaling growing dissent even within Trump’s inner circle of loyalists.
Greene’s willingness to break ranks on this issue—and others—appears to have been the last straw for Trump. In a series of posts, he accused her of “COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN!” and labeled her “another FAKE politician.” Trump also mocked Greene’s alleged frustration that he was not returning her calls, saying, “I can’t take a ranting Lunatic’s call every day.” (CBC News)
For her part, Greene fired back, accusing Trump of lying about her and sharing a screenshot of a message she said she had sent the president earlier that day about releasing the Epstein files. “It’s astonishing really how hard he’s fighting to stop the Epstein files from coming out that he actually goes to this level,” she wrote on X. Greene also reflected on her years of loyalty: “I supported Trump with too much of my precious time, too much of my own money, and fought harder for him even when almost all other Republicans turned their back and denounced him. I don’t worship or serve Donald Trump.”
The feud has left MAGA world reeling. Trump’s decision to endorse a primary challenger against Greene is a rare move against a sitting Republican, especially one with such deep roots in his own movement. The split comes on the heels of Trump’s public falling out with Rep. Thomas Massie, and as far-right influencers like Nick Fuentes gain more visibility, the MAGA coalition appears increasingly fractured (India Today).
Greene’s break with Trump hasn’t been limited to the Epstein controversy. In recent months, she’s criticized Trump’s focus on foreign affairs, urged him to address domestic economic issues—especially the cost of living crisis—and openly opposed his stances on tariffs, mortgage proposals, and H-1B visa policies. Greene even introduced a bill to phase out H-1B visas entirely, while Trump maintained that “America needs certain talents from outside and hence America will not stop hiring foreign talents.”
Speculation has swirled about Greene’s political ambitions. Though some have suggested she’s positioning herself for a 2028 presidential run, Greene has dismissed such talk as “baseless gossip.” On a recent podcast appearance, she said, “I hate politics so much” and insisted her focus was on “fixing problems,” not climbing the political ladder (CBC News).
Meanwhile, the House is preparing for a vote on the Epstein files, expected the week of November 16. The issue has become a litmus test for loyalty and transparency within the GOP. According to The Independent, the petition to force the vote was signed by all House Democrats and just four Republicans—including Greene—underscoring the political risk she’s taken. Trump’s aides’ unsuccessful attempts to sway other Republicans highlight the president’s waning influence over some in his party.
The public nature of the Trump-Greene split has also drawn in personal relationships and media coverage. Greene’s boyfriend, Brian Glenn, a reporter known for his Trump-friendly questions, publicly declared his support for her, posting on X, “I love this woman. I love this country. God bless America.”
Even late-night television has seized on the moment. In a recent Saturday Night Live sketch, Trump was lampooned for allegedly trying to downplay the Epstein scandal and jokingly offering to sell the files as expensive “stocking stuffers.” The sketch poked fun at Trump’s repeated denials of closeness with Epstein and played up the suspicion surrounding the White House’s handling of the issue.
The broader significance of the feud is hard to ignore. As the 2026 midterm elections approach, the internal divisions within the MAGA movement—and the Republican Party more broadly—are coming into sharper relief. Trump’s willingness to publicly attack former allies and Greene’s readiness to challenge the party line may signal a new era of open dissent and shifting allegiances.
For now, one thing is clear: the once-unbreakable Trump-Greene alliance has imploded, leaving both figures, and the movement they helped build, facing an uncertain future.
