In a high‑profile interview that aired Sunday on CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R‑Ga., delivered a blistering critique of President Donald Trump. Greene accused the former president of inciting death threats against her and her son, and of neglecting the domestic agenda he promised to prioritize. The interview marked a dramatic moment for Greene, who had just announced she would resign from Congress in January. Her remarks came after a year of public rifts with Trump and a bipartisan discharge petition that forced the release of Jeffrey Epstein files.
Greene said, “For an ‘America First’ president, the No. 1 focus should have been domestic policy, and it wasn’t. And so, of course, I was critical, because those were my campaign promises.” She added, “Once we fix everything here, then fine, we’ll talk to the rest of the world.” The representative underscored her frustration with Trump’s foreign‑policy distractions. She held the former president accountable for ignoring the promises she campaigned on.
When asked whether she identified as MAGA, Greene replied, “I am America First. … MAGA is President Trump’s phrase. That’s his political policies,” referring to Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again.” She insisted, “I call myself America First.” Greene’s answer highlighted her attempt to distance herself from Trump’s branding. She positioned her own platform as distinct from the former president’s.
Other Republicans on and off Capitol Hill expressed frustration that Trump and the GOP were not addressing Americans’ affordability concerns. Trump has pointed to lower gas prices as evidence of his success. He also issued an executive order directing his administration to investigate anti‑competitive behavior that could affect food supply chains. These actions were presented as part of his broader domestic agenda.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, “In a short time, President Trump has already delivered on many of the promises he was elected to enact.” She listed accomplishments including securing the border, tackling Biden’s inflation crisis, lowering drug prices, ending taxes on tips, overtime, and social security, cooling inflation, deporting criminal illegal aliens, and implementing reforms that put American workers first. Jackson added, “As the architect of the MAGA movement, President Trump will always put America First.” She concluded that Trump was working hard to fulfill his promises and would continue delivering.
Greene spoke to “60 Minutes” on the heels of her shocking announcement last month that she will resign from office in January, a full year before her term ends. Her decision came after she broke with Trump and other party leaders and signed a bipartisan discharge petition that forced a successful vote in the House to compel the release of the government’s files on Jeffrey Epstein. The resignation marked a dramatic turn in Greene’s political trajectory. It underscored her growing estrangement from Trump’s leadership.
The discharge petition had been a central element of Greene’s break with Trump. It forced a vote in the House that compelled the release of the Epstein files. The petition was a bipartisan effort that Greene helped to launch. It represented a direct challenge to Trump’s influence over congressional procedures.
Trump slammed Greene, a conservative hard‑liner who at one point had been one of his most vocal defenders on Capitol Hill, as “Marjorie Traitor Greene.” When Greene complained that she was receiving death threats because of Trump, he dismissed her worries: “I don’t think her life is in danger. … I don’t think anybody cares about her.” Trump’s comments were delivered in the context of their public feud. They further inflamed tensions between the two politicians.
Greene said she was receiving death threats because of Trump’s attacks. She sent Trump messages she had received threatening her son’s life. Greene described Trump’s response as “extremely unkind.” She said he “responded with harsh accusatory replies and zero sympathy.”
In the interview, Greene said that while Trump was fighting the release of the Epstein files and calling her a traitor, he was taking meetings with controversial foreign leaders and New York’s mayor‑elect, Zohran Mamdani. She pointed to a series of high‑profile visits. She highlighted Trump’s engagement with foreign officials. She framed these meetings as evidence of Trump’s priorities.
Greene said, “He did this in the same time span where President Trump brought in the Al Qaeda leader that was wanted by the U.S. government, who is now the president of Syria.” She continued, “Then, within a week, he brought in the Crown Prince MBS, who murdered an American journalist.” Greene added, “And then he brought in the newly elected Democrat socialist mayor of New York.” She concluded, “That was the time span that he called me a traitor.”
When Stahl asked whether Trump had run her out of town, Greene replied, “No, not at all. … I will be no one’s battered wife … and I won’t allow the system to abuse me anymore.” She emphasized her refusal to be silenced. Greene declared she would not let the system continue to abuse her. She maintained her resolve to speak out.
Greene recounted a phone call in which Trump tried to persuade her to back off the discharge petition effort involving the Epstein files. She said, “We did talk about the Epstein files, and he was extremely angry at me that I had signed the discharge petition to release the files.” Greene added, “I fully believe that those women deserve everything they’re asking. They’re asking for all of it to come out; they deserve it.” She said, “And he was furious with me. … He said it was going to hurt people.”
In the end, Greene and three other House Republicans didn’t cave under pressure from Trump. The Epstein bill got to the floor, and all but one House member voted for Trump’s Justice Department to release the files. The Senate passed the bill unanimously. Trump quietly signed it into law.
Because of Trump’s ire, Greene said, she and her son faced numerous death threats. She said she sent Trump messages she had received threatening her son’s life. Greene described Trump’s response as “extremely unkind.” She elaborated about their exchange in a thread on X earlier Sunday.
She said Trump “responded with harsh accusatory replies and zero sympathy.” Greene posted that she also sent threats to FBI Director Kash Patel and thankfully he responded with “on it.” She said she sent these threats to Vice President JD Vance who responded promptly with kindness and sympathy. Greene posted on X to highlight the contrast between Trump’s reaction and those of other officials.
In her X thread, Greene noted that she sent the threats to FBI Director Kash Patel and that he replied with “on it.” She also mentioned Vice President JD Vance’s prompt response. Vance’s reply was described as kind and sympathetic. Greene used the thread to illustrate how other leaders treated her concerns.
Greene rejected speculation that her very public break with Trump is because she wants to run for president in 2028. She said, “I have zero plans, zero desire to run for president. I would hate the Senate. I’m not running for governor.” Greene added, “But, Lesley, it doesn’t matter how many times I say it, I’ll have face‑to‑face conversations with people, and I’ll flat‑out tell them to their face, and they won’t believe me.”
The interview left viewers with a stark portrait of a congresswoman at odds with the president she once supported. Greene’s remarks highlighted her frustration with Trump’s foreign‑policy focus and his dismissal of her safety concerns. She emphasized her commitment to her constituents and her refusal to be silenced. The conversation also underscored the deep rift between Greene and Trump, a rift that may shape the GOP’s future dynamics.
Key Takeaways
- Greene accuses Trump of inciting death threats and neglecting domestic policy.
- Trump’s actions on affordability and his executive order on food supply chains are highlighted.
- The Epstein discharge petition forced a release of files and led to Greene’s resignation announcement.
