Trump’s Rift with Marjorie Taylor Greene Over Epstein Files Raises Questions for MAGA Movement
The Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files saga has been a disaster from the beginning – at least in terms of optics. President Trump’s reaction to the whole affair has not only been unimpressive but has likely infuriated many of his supporters.
Recently, it appears that Trump has disavowed one of his staunchest allies in Congress, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), over her insistence on publicizing documents relating to the late alleged sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein. This development does not bode well for Trump himself or for the broader MAGA movement.
The Public Fallout
The split between the president and Greene boiled over on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, November 14. Trump announced that he was withdrawing his support for Greene as well as rescinding his endorsement. The following day, he escalated his criticism, describing Greene as a “lightweight” and accusing her of betraying “the entire Republican Party when she turned Left, performed poorly on the pathetic View, and became the RINO that we all know she always was.”
Such remarks branding Marjorie Taylor Greene a “RINO” (Republican In Name Only) left many Trump supporters scratching their heads. The president’s rant continued, and in a later post on November 15, he went as far as dubbing Greene “Marjorie ‘Traitor’ Greene.”
Greene’s Response
In response, Greene defended herself at length on X. She highlighted her commitment to fighting for victims, writing, “I never thought that fighting to release the Epstein files, defending women who were victims of rape, and fighting to expose the web of rich powerful elites would have caused this, but here we are. And it truly speaks for itself.”
To bolster her defense, Greene posted two screenshots. One showed that Conservative Review awarded her a “Liberty Score” of 100%—an A grade—while Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a Republican whom Trump appears to trust, had a 43% grade, an F. The other image revealed that Greene has received no campaign donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a powerful lobbyist group.
She speculated on the reasons behind Trump’s attacks: “This and the Epstein files is why I’m being attacked by President Trump. It really makes you wonder what is in those files and who and what country is putting so much pressure on him? I forgive him and I will pray for him to return to his original MAGA promises.”
Epstein Files: Not Gone and Not Forgotten
Rumored links between Epstein and Israel have yet to be verified, but merely discussing such connections seems to unsettle many on the right. While these may be labeled wild conspiracy theories, the handling of the Epstein files undeniably carries the appearance of a cover-up.
For true America First advocates, the concern deepens if Trump’s sudden and puzzling anger towards Greene stems from her pursuit of the truth about Epstein. It suggests that something untoward may be occurring behind closed doors.
It is indeed strange that President Trump is resisting efforts to disclose the Epstein matter publicly. On one hand, he is likely frustrated by the distraction, as much of the information within the so-called Epstein files is now public or in the hands of congressional investigators. On the other, this issue should have been resolved months ago.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) ought to have held one or more press conferences to clarify to the public what they possessed, the actions they were taking, and what—if anything—was preventing full transparency. Trump should have fully endorsed and perhaps even insisted on such transparency.
If truly no cover-up or secret deals exist to keep names or information buried, this entire affair represents a public relations failure of staggering proportions.
The ‘Client List’ Conspiracy
Jeffrey Epstein’s supposed “client list” has been a subject of discussion since his 2019 incarceration. However, the existence of such a list is dubious. Epstein’s victims’ attorney claims no such list ever existed, and it would be odd if Epstein had kept one.
Conspiracy theorists argue the list was for blackmail, but this claim is illogical. Epstein could have easily fabricated any names on such a list with no proof. Effective blackmail would require documented evidence—audio, video, photographs—not just a name.
At one point, some women allegedly trafficked by Epstein threatened to release their own list but never followed through. Greene vowed to read the list on the House floor, but this appeared more a publicity stunt, as she did not act on it—likely because neither she nor anyone else had ever seen such a list.
From this perspective, Trump’s frustration with the issue seems understandable. It is widely accepted that no illicit connection exists between Trump and Epstein; media outlets opposed to Trump would have exposed any such link long ago.
Nonetheless, Trump’s open anger over the Epstein files, which he labels a “hoax,” has unsettled much of the MAGA base, especially following a comment where he said he does not want support from anyone “still clamoring to see the documents made public.” This did little to quell tensions.
Trump’s Loyalty Issues Within the GOP
Did Trump’s feud with Greene begin when he reportedly advised her to forget about running for governor or Senate in Georgia? Perhaps. But the public falling out appears to have been initiated by Trump, as Greene has not directly attacked or criticized the former president, whom she supported through two impeachments.
More troubling for Trump supporters is an emerging trend of the president turning his back on other GOP allies, such as Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY). Both have largely supported Trump but have spoken out when they felt it necessary.
This raises a concerning question for MAGA adherents: does America have a president who demands total and unwavering loyalty from every Republican on Capitol Hill? The Republican Party has never been as monolithic as the Democratic Party became under Barack Obama, and expecting complete conformity is unrealistic.
Perhaps this internal strife is temporary. Trump has had volatile relationships with many top Republicans, many of whom have evolved into loyal allies and respected Cabinet members. But Greene—often scorned by establishment Republicans and reviled by the left—is a popular MAGA firebrand.
Ironically, the more Trump publicly berates her in a somewhat petulant and childish manner, the more the foundations of the historic MAGA coalition appear to rumble and shift beneath the surface.
https://www.libertynation.com/trump-epstein-and-marjorie-taylor-greene-is-maga-in-trouble/
