Today's News: Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene Announces Resignation From Congress

Trump had labeled her a “traitor” and withdrawn his endorsement after she challenged him on various policy issues, most notably the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Photo: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Overview

• Date: November 21-22, 2025

• Summary: Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene announced her resignation from Congress, effective January 5, 2026, following a public and acrimonious falling-out with President Donald Trump. Trump had labeled her a “traitor” and withdrawn his endorsement after she challenged him on various policy issues, most notably the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Greene cited a desire to avoid a “hurtful and hateful primary,” disillusionment with Washington politics, and continuous personal attacks and threats as reasons for her departure. Her resignation is expected to further shrink the already slim Republican House majority and has sparked wider discussions about the future of the Republican Party in a “post-Trump politics” era.

Sources

• The New York Times - Marjorie Taylor Greene Says She Plans to Resign in January

• The New York Times - Trump Shows His Power, and Greene Reveals His Weakness

• CNN - GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene will leave Congress after five turbulent years

• NBC News - Trump says he would ‘love’ to see Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene return to politics at some point

• The Washington Post - GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announces she is resigning from House

• The Wall Street Journal - Marjorie Taylor Greene to Resign From Congress

• Fox News - Trump reacts to Marjorie Taylor Greene resignation, says he ‘refused to return’ her ‘barrage of phone calls’

Key Points

• Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene announced her resignation from Congress, effective January 5, 2026.

• Her decision followed a public and contentious split with President Donald Trump, who labeled her a “traitor” and withdrew his endorsement.

• A primary point of contention was Greene’s push for the release of Jeffrey Epstein files, an effort she pursued despite Trump’s initial objections.

• Greene cited her desire to avoid a “hurtful and hateful primary” and her disillusionment with Washington politics as key reasons for resigning.

• She also mentioned enduring “never-ending personal attacks, death threats, lawfare and ridiculous slander and lies” throughout her career.

• Her departure will further narrow the Republican House majority, posing challenges for Speaker Mike Johnson.

• Trump publicly reacted to her resignation, initially calling it “great news for the country” and later stating he was open to reconciliation.

• Greene’s resignation is seen as a significant event highlighting internal divisions within the Republican Party and signaling potential shifts in “MAGA” movement ideology beyond Trump’s immediate influence.

Unique Highlights

• The New York Times reported that Greene apologized on CNN for contributing to the divisive and toxic political climate in America. It also noted Speaker Mike Johnson did not immediately provide a statement on her announcement, and included a quote from Stephen K. Bannon stating, “The House is not big enough for her ambitions or personality.”

• The New York Times also provided a deeper analysis of the broader “post-Trump politics” and the early jockeying for the 2028 presidential race, mentioning Vice President JD Vance and Senator Ted Cruz as potential contenders. It quoted Vivek Ramaswamy on the party’s “fork in the road” and discussed various policy disagreements surfacing across the party, including military action in Venezuela, tariffs, H-1B visas, health care costs, support for Israel, and the role of white nationalist Nick Fuentes.

• CNN stated that Greene had been contemplating her resignation for over a week due to escalating threats amid her falling-out with the president. It also noted that Greene, who had once been discussed as a potential candidate for her state’s high-stakes Senate race, currently has no plans to run for office, and that she praised Nancy Pelosi’s leadership in a recent CNN interview, saying, “She had an incredible career for her party.”

• NBC News quoted a person close to Greene who said the congresswoman remained convinced she would win re-election but desired relief from harassment in public and on television, wanting to “take a step back and be a private, normal person again.” It also revealed that Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson had no advance warning of Greene’s decision.

• The Washington Post highlighted Greene’s specific complaints about Congress being sidelined, stating, “the legislature has been mostly sidelined,” and her criticism of her own party for failing to address health insurance costs, instead offering “disgusting political drama.” It also included reactions from local GOP leaders like Denise Burns and Salleigh Grubbs, expressing sadness and concern over the loss of an “effective spokesperson” for the MAGA movement.

• The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had previously presented Greene with polling data showing her losing significantly to Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff to discourage her interest in a Senate run. It also included quotes from voters in her district debating the split between Greene and Trump before her resignation, such as Carl Gookins applauding her for standing up for Epstein’s victims.

• Fox News provided specific details from Trump’s Truth Social post, where he claimed Greene “went BAD” primarily because he “refused to return her never ending barrage of phone calls,” and criticized her relationship with Representative Thomas Massie, calling Massie “the WORST Republican Congressman in decades.”

Contrasting Details

• Reason for Resignation:

  • Marjorie Taylor Greene, as cited by The New York Times, CNN, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, stated her reasons included not wanting to endure a “hurtful and hateful primary” against a Trump-backed challenger, disillusionment with Washington politics, and “never-ending personal attacks, death threats, lawfare and ridiculous slander and lies.”

  • President Trump, as reported by CNN, NBC News, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Fox News, attributed her resignation to “PLUMMETING Poll Numbers” and her unwillingness to face a primary challenger with his endorsement, asserting she “would have no chance of winning.”

  • A person close to Greene, according to NBC News, contradicted Trump’s assertion about her poll numbers, stating Greene was convinced she would win re-election but sought relief from the constant harassment and public scrutiny.

• Trump’s Advance Knowledge:

  • The New York Times (Nov 21) stated that Greene’s announcement surprised her colleagues, Republican leaders, and staff.

  • The Washington Post reported that Trump told ABC News reporter Rachel Scott that Greene did not give him advance notice of her decision.

  • NBC News corroborated this, stating that Trump had received no advance warning and neither did Speaker Mike Johnson, with a person close to Greene noting, “Everyone in the world found out at the same time.”

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