Trump calls Marjorie Taylor Greene resignation ‘great news for the country’

Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Republican Georgia congresswoman who had a dramatic blow-up with Donald Trump despite being his longtime ally, announced on Friday she would be resigning – which Trump called “great news”.

“Loyalty should be a two-way street” while Congress “has mostly been sidelined” under the Trump administration, Greene said in a lengthy resignation statement on social media.

Trump, who had withdrawn his support of Greene in recent months as the congresswoman criticized him for his stance on files related to Jeffrey Epstein, along with foreign policy and healthcare, appeared to celebrate her resignation.

“I think it’s great news for the country. It’s great,” Trump told an ABC News reporter.

“Nah, it doesn’t matter, you know, but I think it’s great. I think she should be happy,” Trump said when asked if Greene had informed him.

Despite being one of the most vocal and visible supporters of Trump’s Make America Great Again movement, Trump called Greene a “traitor” and “wacky”, and said he would endorse a challenger against her when she ran for re-election next year.

Greene had said last week she was the subject of “a hotbed of threats” after Trump withdrew his support for and endorsement of her.

Greene reiterated those threats in her statement, saying she had faced “never-ending personal attacks, death threats, lawfare, ridiculous slander and lies about me, that most people could never withstand even for a day”.

Texas congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat, posted on social media: “I’m going to be honest … I didn’t see this coming but the threats that come with being on the opposite side of Trump ARE REAL!”

The move sent shockwaves through US politics. The Republican political strategist Shermichael Singleton called it “a big shocker”.

“Maybe she’s looking at future plans,” Singleton said.

Greene may have an ally in Democratic congressman Ro Khanna, who worked with her to pass the bill to release the files related to the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein.

“MTG is likely to be a formidable 2028 candidate. Her stances on Epstein, on regulating AI, and anti-war are more in touch with MAGA voters than JD Vance,” Khanna said.

Shawn Harris, a Georgia Democrat, stands ready to take Greene’s place. He rallied his supporters in a post on social media on Friday, saying: “As you’ve likely heard, Marjorie Taylor Greene has announced her resignation effective January 5, 2026. Get ready Georgia! Teachers, farmers, veterans, EVERYONE, I need your support.”