In a heated exchange that has since gone viral, U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene confronted Sky News journalist Martha Kelner during a press conference on March 26, 2025, telling her to "go back to your country" after Kelner inquired about a significant security breach involving leaked U.S. military operations. This incident has sparked discussions about anti-British sentiment within the Trump administration, as Greene's outburst drew widespread attention and condemnation.
The confrontation occurred following Greene's chairing of a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) hearing, where she called for defunding public broadcasters like NPR and PBS, labeling them as "radical, left-wing echo chambers." Kelner attempted to ask Greene about the implications of the Signal scandal, which involved details of U.S. military operations in Yemen being shared with a journalist. However, Greene interrupted her, demanding to know Kelner's nationality.
When Kelner identified herself as British, Greene launched into a tirade, stating, "We don’t give a c**p about your opinion and your reporting. Why don’t you go back to your country, where you have a major migrant problem? You should care about your own borders." Greene's comments have been interpreted as reflective of a broader anti-British and anti-European sentiment within the administration, as noted by Kelner.
Speaking from Washington, Kelner remarked, "It was an exercise in deflection. I did expect her to take that tone with me. I didn't take it personally and I'm not a victim." She added that the footage of the exchange has gone viral, accumulating millions of views in both the U.S. and the U.K. Many Americans have reached out to Kelner, expressing embarrassment over Greene's behavior and stating, "She doesn’t represent our views."
Kelner highlighted the underlying tensions between the Trump administration and its European allies, referencing a speech by Vice President J.D. Vance at the Munich Security Conference, where he suggested that immigration and the erosion of free speech pose a greater threat to the U.K. and Europe than Russia. "There’s an anti-British and an anti-Europe thing in this administration," Kelner stated, emphasizing the need for accountability in U.S. foreign policy.
During the exchange, when Kelner pressed Greene about the potential risks to American lives posed by the leaked information, Greene deflected, instead accusing the U.K. of putting lives at risk in Ukraine. She asserted, "Do you care about people from your country? What about all the women that are raped by migrants? You're done. I don’t care about your fake news." Greene's refusal to engage with Kelner's questions further fueled the narrative of hostility towards foreign journalists.
The incident has raised questions about the treatment of journalists under the Trump administration, with Kelner noting, "Attacking journalists is not going to make us go away. We're still going to be there. We're still going to be asking the questions." The fallout from the Signal leak, which has been described as a significant national security blunder, continues to reverberate, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denying any wrongdoing despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
In the aftermath of the confrontation, Kelner received a mix of responses. While some messages were critical, many were supportive, with individuals thanking her for her persistence in seeking answers. "I’ve had people apologizing for how she interacted with me," Kelner said, adding that the positive messages have outweighed the negative. She noted, "There's not been any death threats or anything like that, but I’ve been quite heartened by the fact that I think a lot of people are messaging to say 'thank you for keeping asking the questions' and 'we want answers to them.'"
As the debate continues over the implications of the Signal leak and the broader attitudes of the Trump administration towards its allies, the incident involving Greene and Kelner serves as a stark reminder of the contentious environment surrounding political discourse in the U.S. today. Greene's outburst not only reflects her personal views but also highlights a growing trend among some factions within the Republican Party that prioritize nationalist sentiments over international cooperation.
While the Trump administration has sought to downplay the significance of the leaked information, critics argue that it underscores serious lapses in judgment and communication among key officials. As the story unfolds, it remains to be seen how this incident will impact U.S.-U.K. relations and the future of political journalism in an increasingly polarized environment.
