Less than a week after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene appeared on The View, President Donald Trump abruptly folded on the question of releasing the Epstein files. There’s a straight line between these developments, if this wasn’t already obvious from their posts on Truth Social and X.
As Republican House support for holding the line on releasing the files began to wither, the president grew increasingly furious in his online jabs at Rep. Thomas Massie, who he insinuated had remarried too soon after his late wife’s death, and “wacky” Marjorie, who he said was only mad at him because he’d shown her a poll showing she had no chance in a statewide Georgia race.
In her own sweet way, Greene gave as good as she got.
“I have supported President Trump with too much of my precious time, too much of my own money, and fought harder for him even when almost all other Republicans turned their back and denounced him,” she wrote. “But I don’t worship or serve Donald Trump.”
After withdrawing his endorsement, Trump escalated, calling Greene a “traitor.” When Greene protested this “put blood in the water and causes a feeding frenzy,” Trump dismissed the idea that his words threatened her life.
When CNN’s Dana Bash asked her why she hadn’t protested when similar words threatened others before her, the congresswoman, who began her career with an ad showing her taking target practice on a picture of Nancy Pelosi, went full-on Jimmy Carter.
“I think that’s fair criticism,” she said. “And I would like to say humbly I’m sorry for taking part in the toxic politics. It’s very bad for our country. It’s something I’ve thought about a lot, especially since Charlie Kirk was assassinated…”
Yes, it’s a long stretch. But if the thought of a far-right Republican woman making a deliberate move to the middle, denouncing “toxic politics” and talking about the need for “women of maturity” to work together, doesn’t put a deep fright in both parties, it should. It seems clearly to have rattled Trump.
Many congressional Republicans have probably realized they might someday have to draw the line with Trump, but dreaded crossing him too much to act. Last week, they looked on and saw Trump back down on the issue he’d been feuding with Greene about, after blasting her with both barrels for days. He persisted in calling her a traitor even after announcing his reversal on the Epstein files. Trump whisperer Laura Loomer has suggested she might move into Greene’s district and challenge her in a primary. But it’s unlikely Trump will have much appetite for prolonging this feud.
It’s a safe bet that no matter what turns out to be in the Epstein files, Democrats and Republicans will find smoking guns pointing in opposite directions. Trump has indicated he’ll sign the bill releasing the files if it passes, but there is as much chance the revelations will fuel the controversy as there is that it will put it to rest. In any event, Greene doesn’t look so wacky anymore.
Does a call to “put down the knives in politics” have any traction in an era of increasingly sharp partisanship? You can question Greene’s sincerity, but not her sense of timing. Americans have indeed grown increasingly concerned about the country’s direction. The most loyal Trump supporters may walk away from her, but she stands to gain more ground among those who have grown disaffected like her.
As Patrick Henry said, “If this be treason, make the most of it.”
Smart, as ever, Tombax. c