Marjorie Taylor Greene Announces Resignation from Congress/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene will resign from Congress on January 5, 2026, following a public split from Donald Trump. Her departure comes amid rising GOP infighting and after Trump labeled her a “traitor” and vowed to defeat her. Greene says she’s stepping away to avoid a divisive primary and focus on her convictions beyond Washington.
Marjorie Taylor Greene Resignation Quick Read
- Greene announces resignation effective Jan. 5, 2026.
- Fallout stems from Trump feud over Epstein files, policy disagreements.
- Trump calls her exit “great news for the country.”
- Greene: “Loyalty should be a two-way street.”
- First elected in 2020, Greene became known for MAGA rhetoric and conspiracy-laced claims.
- Exit underscores fractures in the Republican Party before 2026 midterms.
- Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp must call special election for her seat.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Announces Resignation from Congress
Deep Look
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Georgia firebrand who became one of Donald Trump’s most vocal allies before turning into one of his sharpest Republican critics, announced Friday night that she will resign from Congress effective January 5, 2026.
In a 10-minute video posted online, Greene cited her deteriorating relationship with the president as the reason for her decision. She said she wanted to spare her district from what she called “a hateful and hurtful primary” against a Trump-backed challenger.
The congresswoman, who recorded the video announcing her resignation while sitting in her living room wearing a cross necklace and with a Christmas tree and a peace lily plant behind her, said:
“My life is filled with happiness, and my true convictions remain unchanged, because my self-worth is not defined by a man, but instead by God.”
In her video Friday, she underscored her longtime loyalty to Trump except on a few issues, and said it was “unfair and wrong” that he attacked her for disagreeing.
“Loyalty should be a two-way street and we should be able to vote our conscience and represent our district’s interest, because our job title is literally ‘representative,’” she said.
In her video Friday, Greene said she had “always been despised in Washington, D.C., and just never fit in.”
The resignation marks a dramatic and bitter end to the political rise of a woman once hailed by Trump as a “real WINNER!” and considered a key voice in the MAGA movement. Greene’s increasingly public criticism of Trump — especially on issues like foreign policy, healthcare, and the handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents — led to a full-blown political divorce.
Trump responded bluntly. In a brief phone call to ABC News, he called Greene’s resignation “great news for the country” and said he had no intention of speaking with her.
Fallout from a Trump Feud
Trump labeled Greene a “traitor” and “wacky” earlier this year and pledged to fund a challenger to unseat her in the 2026 GOP primary. Greene, once a staunch defender of Trump in Congress, said in her resignation video that loyalty must be mutual.
“Loyalty should be a two-way street,” she said, “and we should be able to vote our conscience and represent our district’s interest.”
Greene’s announcement follows a chaotic period on Capitol Hill, where internal Republican divisions and MAGA-fueled infighting have led to multiple high-profile resignations and retirements ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp will be required to schedule a special election to fill Greene’s seat in the conservative 14th District. That race could occur before the May 2026 party primaries.
From MAGA Darling to D.C. Lightning Rod
First elected in 2020, Greene rose to national prominence for her inflammatory rhetoric and embrace of fringe conspiracy theories, including support for QAnon and suggestions that the 9/11 attacks were staged.
Despite early condemnation from some in the GOP, Trump embraced her, and Greene quickly became a megaphone for his grievances in Washington. Over the years, she drew criticism for spreading misinformation, comparing mask mandates to the Holocaust, and blaming wildfires on space lasers tied to a Jewish banking family.
After aligning herself with then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, she wielded significant influence until McCarthy’s 2023 ouster. Her political clout never fully recovered.
Still, Greene remained a force. At President Biden’s 2022 State of the Union, she shouted “Build the wall.” In 2024, she interrupted Biden’s address again, this time wearing a red MAGA hat and handing him a button about Laken Riley, a Georgia student killed by an undocumented immigrant.
Cracks in the MAGA Foundation
Her resignation reflects growing cracks in the Trump-aligned wing of the GOP. While she remained conservative on most issues, Greene increasingly criticized the White House for marginalizing Congress and sidelining legislation.
“The legislature has been mostly sidelined,” she said. “My bills just sit collecting dust.” “That’s how it is for most members of Congress’ bills,” she said. “The speaker never brings them to the floor for a vote.”
Greene also claimed Trump had “hatefully dumped tens of millions of dollars” into efforts to destroy her political career and predicted Republicans would lose the 2026 midterms.
“I refuse to be a battered wife hoping it all goes away and gets better,” she said. “It’s all so absurd and completely unserious.
Republicans will likely lose the midterms elections next year she said:
Greene said, and then she’d “be expected to defend the president against impeachment after he hatefully dumped tens of millions of dollars against me and tried to destroy me.”
“It’s all so absurd and completely unserious,” she said. “I refuse to be a battered wife hoping it all goes away and gets better.”
What’s Next?
It remains unclear what Greene’s future plans are, but her departure from Congress may not be the end of her political career. With her national profile and devoted base, speculation has already begun about possible roles in media, activism, or even a future gubernatorial run.
Whatever her next step, her resignation marks the end of a turbulent and polarizing chapter in modern American politics — one that leaves the MAGA movement with one less firebrand and a clearer picture of its internal fractures.
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