Marjorie Taylor Greene Blasts Trump as GOP Civil War Explodes

Paul Riverbank, 12/30/2025 Cracks emerge in GOP unity as Marjorie Taylor Greene challenges Trump’s dominance, conservative media rebuff 2020 election myths, and Democrats sharpen oversight demands—underscoring deepening divisions and shifting power dynamics as a pivotal election cycle approaches.

Greene’s criticisms didn’t stop at policy or party loyalty. In a moment that surprised even seasoned observers, she voiced discomfort with the culture around Mar-a-Lago, openly remarking, “I have two daughters, and I’ve always been uncomfortable with how those women puff up their lips and enlarge their breasts.” For a public figure who’s often chosen provocation over subtlety, it was still unusually candid. Greene promised she intends to speak out more in the months ahead, especially as she prepares to step away from Congress.

Meanwhile, it’s not just former allies feeling a jolt. Greene took direct aim at Speaker Mike Johnson, bluntly asserting, “Johnson is not our speaker. He is not our leader. In the legislative branch … he is literally 100 percent under direct orders from the White House. Many, many Republicans are so furious about that, but they’re cowards.” The White House responded quickly—perhaps tired of this sort of intraparty drama—shrugging off Greene’s words as “petty bitterness,” while pointing to what they called a “collaborative relationship” with Johnson. In their response, they repeated the familiar refrain: Trump, they said, is still “the undisputed leader of the greatest and fastest growing political movement in American history—the MAGA movement.” That statement, rather notable for its confidence, comes as the party’s unity is visibly fraying.

At the same time, the party continues to wrestle with the fallout of the last presidential election. In Georgia, a lawyer pointed out that some tabulator tapes from early voting hadn’t been properly signed. The reaction among Trump loyalists was immediate—they leapt on this technicality as proof, yet again, of foul play back in 2020. The Wall Street Journal editorial board didn’t mince words dismissing the claims, labeling them “nonsense.” Yes, they conceded, unsigned tabulator tapes are a symptom of a sloppy system, and Fulton County’s election office could certainly do with an overhaul. But the board also made it plain: an administrative mistake is a far cry from a grand electoral conspiracy.

Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s Secretary of State—himself no stranger to the national spotlight since the election—waded in, emphasizing that every voter was verified with photo ID, and every legitimate ballot counted. “A clerical error at the end of the day does not erase valid legal votes,” he insisted. Echoing the Journal, he added that botched recordkeeping is “bad for public confidence,” but so, too, are the relentless, shifting stories from Trump and his allies.

As if the Republican turmoil weren’t enough, Democrats have their own fires to stoke. Appearing on MS NOW, Rep. Eric Swalwell called on his party to be upfront about the possibility of going after Trump-era officials—potentially through impeachment or by slashing their budgets—should Democrats reclaim the House in 2026. He tied his argument to the never-quite-dormant furor over the Jeffrey Epstein files, suggesting, “We all know that Jeffrey Epstein was Donald Trump’s best friend. We know that because Jeffrey Epstein said that. … I know everything about my best friends. So, if one of my best friends was a child sex trafficker, I would know that.”

Swalwell isn’t alone in demanding more transparency from the Justice Department about what, exactly, those files contain. There’s now rare, if uneasy, bipartisan agreement: lawmakers like Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna are advocating for the use of “inherent contempt”—a rarely invoked congressional power—to force the hand of officials reluctant to disclose documents. Still, Democratic leaders, recognizing the political volatility, are treading carefully, suggesting it’s “premature” to talk impeachment, even as the pressure mounts for answers.

Donald Trump, never one to let a challenge go unanswered, dismissed the noise around Epstein’s files as “a Democrat inspired Hoax,” and pivoted attention (as he often does) back to what he insists is the country’s central issue: election fraud.

The approaching election season is already shedding any illusion that American politics are fixed in place—within the Republican ranks, old allegiances are splintering; traditional media voices, like The Wall Street Journal, are urging restraint on the most outlandish claims; and Democrats, though outwardly united, are engaged in their own internal debates over how aggressive their oversight agenda should be. Beneath the public statements and sharp soundbites, one truth stands: the battle lines may shift, but the struggles over power, legitimacy, and narrative remain stubbornly entrenched.

Just a few years back, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene wouldn’t have hesitated to defend Donald Trump, often going all-in for the former president. Yet this time, her recent conversations with both CNN and the New York Times Magazine have showcased a sharp departure, one that feels both personal and political. “The dam is breaking,” she declared, a striking phrase given her past loyalty. Greene went further, plainly questioning Trump’s faith and willingness to reciprocate support: “It’s a one-way street—and it ends whenever it suits him,” she told the magazine, betraying a frustration that appears to have simmered for some time.Greene’s criticisms didn’t stop at policy or party loyalty. In a moment that surprised even seasoned observers, she voiced discomfort with the culture around Mar-a-Lago, openly remarking, “I have two daughters, and I’ve always been uncomfortable with how those women puff up their lips and enlarge their breasts.” For a public figure who’s often chosen provocation over subtlety, it was still unusually candid. Greene promised she intends to speak out more in the months ahead, especially as she prepares to step away from Congress.Meanwhile, it’s not just former allies feeling a jolt. Greene took direct aim at Speaker Mike Johnson, bluntly asserting, “Johnson is not our speaker. He is not our leader. In the legislative branch … he is literally 100 percent under direct orders from the White House. Many, many Republicans are so furious about that, but they’re cowards.” The White House responded quickly—perhaps tired of this sort of intraparty drama—shrugging off Greene’s words as “petty bitterness,” while pointing to what they called a “collaborative relationship” with Johnson. In their response, they repeated the familiar refrain: Trump, they said, is still “the undisputed leader of the greatest and fastest growing political movement in American history—the MAGA movement.” That statement, rather notable for its confidence, comes as the party’s unity is visibly fraying.At the same time, the party continues to wrestle with the fallout of the last presidential election. In Georgia, a lawyer pointed out that some tabulator tapes from early voting hadn’t been properly signed. The reaction among Trump loyalists was immediate—they leapt on this technicality as proof, yet again, of foul play back in 2020. The Wall Street Journal editorial board didn’t mince words dismissing the claims, labeling them “nonsense.” Yes, they conceded, unsigned tabulator tapes are a symptom of a sloppy system, and Fulton County’s election office could certainly do with an overhaul. But the board also made it plain: an administrative mistake is a far cry from a grand electoral conspiracy.Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s Secretary of State—himself no stranger to the national spotlight since the election—waded in, emphasizing that every voter was verified with photo ID, and every legitimate ballot counted. “A clerical error at the end of the day does not erase valid legal votes,” he insisted. Echoing the Journal, he added that botched recordkeeping is “bad for public confidence,” but so, too, are the relentless, shifting stories from Trump and his allies.As if the Republican turmoil weren’t enough, Democrats have their own fires to stoke. Appearing on MS NOW, Rep. Eric Swalwell called on his party to be upfront about the possibility of going after Trump-era officials—potentially through impeachment or by slashing their budgets—should Democrats reclaim the House in 2026. He tied his argument to the never-quite-dormant furor over the Jeffrey Epstein files, suggesting, “We all know that Jeffrey Epstein was Donald Trump’s best friend. We know that because Jeffrey Epstein said that. … I know everything about my best friends. So, if one of my best friends was a child sex trafficker, I would know that.”Swalwell isn’t alone in demanding more transparency from the Justice Department about what, exactly, those files contain. There’s now rare, if uneasy, bipartisan agreement: lawmakers like Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna are advocating for the use of “inherent contempt”—a rarely invoked congressional power—to force the hand of officials reluctant to disclose documents. Still, Democratic leaders, recognizing the political volatility, are treading carefully, suggesting it’s “premature” to talk impeachment, even as the pressure mounts for answers.Donald Trump, never one to let a challenge go unanswered, dismissed the noise around Epstein’s files as “a Democrat inspired Hoax,” and pivoted attention (as he often does) back to what he insists is the country’s central issue: election fraud.The approaching election season is already shedding any illusion that American politics are fixed in place—within the Republican ranks, old allegiances are splintering; traditional media voices, like The Wall Street Journal, are urging restraint on the most outlandish claims; and Democrats, though outwardly united, are engaged in their own internal debates over how aggressive their oversight agenda should be. Beneath the public statements and sharp soundbites, one truth stands: the battle lines may shift, but the struggles over power, legitimacy, and narrative remain stubbornly entrenched.