The Marjorie Taylor Greene Conundrum: How Much is Too Much for Republicans?
By Jake Beardslee ·
June 12, 2024
Marjorie Taylor Greene, the controversial Republican congresswoman from Georgia, has been causing headaches for House GOP leaders as they grapple with how much attention to give the Trump loyalist. Jack Gruber/USA TODAY / USA TODAY NETWORK
After largely toeing the line under former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Greene has become an outspoken critic of the new leadership under Speaker Mike Johnson. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY
In recent weeks, she has pressured Johnson to pursue an impeachment of President Biden and even allow a government shutdown rather than continue funding the Department of Justice - ideas that have little support among more centrist Republicans. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK
"This is supposed to be a collaborative body, at least within your own conference, and she doesn't play nice in the sandbox," Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-FL) told CNN. United States Congress / Wikimedia
The tension reached a boiling point last month at a House Oversight Committee meeting that devolved into chaos. When Democrats demanded Greene apologize for commenting on Rep. Jasmine Crockett's appearance, Greene delivered a defiant message to Chairman James Comer: "There's no effing way I'm doing that. I won't apologize. And I'm not leaving." Josh Morgan / USA TODAY NETWORK
Greene justifies her rebellious streak by claiming to represent the voice of the MAGA base. "I don't care what happens in this committee room — I will not leave," she told Comer, adding that her "people" would not want her silenced, according to CNN. Jack Gruber/USA TODAY / USA TODAY NETWORK
"They are over her, but they still fear her, because she has an incredible audience and fundraising mechanism and could turn that against you," one GOP lawmaker told CNN regarding the calculation many make in confronting Greene. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK
Green has called her own conference "feckless" and "useless." After Trump's conviction in the hush money case, she declared: "We aren't a serious country anymore. We're literally a banana republic. So what does it matter funding the government?" Seth Wenig/Pool via USA TODAY NETWORK
As Speaker Johnson weighs avoiding politically risky votes that could hurt vulnerable Republicans, the defiant Greene appears poised to continue testing the limits of her party's patience. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY
