Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Calls for a “National Divorce”; Faces Criticism from House Leader
On President's Day, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) renewed calls for a ‘national divorce', arguing that Republican and Democratic states should be separated and the federal government should be shrunk.[0] The right-wing firebrand shared her thoughts on Twitter, writing, “We need to separate by red states and blue states and shrink the federal government.”[1] Greene has previously floated the idea of a national split, suggesting in December of 2021 that in order to prevent “Democrats and big donors” from enacting policies in Florida that are similar to those in California, there would need to be a “National Divorce scenario.”[2]
After a busy morning of criticizing President Joe Biden for taking a 10-hour train ride from Poland to Kyiv, Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky on the first anniversary of the war with Russia, Greene called for a national split.[3] She wrote, “Biden didn’t go to East Palestine, Ohio on President’s Day. He went to Ukraine, a NON-NATO nation, whose leader is an actor and is apparently now commanding our United States military to world war. We must impeach this America Last fool before it’s too late.”
Greene's rhetoric has been met with criticism from House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and others, who have condemned her stances on specific issues.[4] Speaker McCarthy wrote on Twitter, “This rhetoric is destructive and wrong and—honestly—evil. We don’t need a divorce, we need marriage counseling. And we need elected leaders that don’t profit by tearing us apart. We can disagree without hate. Healthy conflict was critical to our nation’s founding and survival.”[0]
Social media user Glen S, a sports photographer according to his Twitter description, wrote: “You 100% backed lying, backstabbing, swamp dweller Speaker McCarthy who is now being true to his colors by backing out of his promises. 95% of the base objected to him because of his history of doing this time and time again while ignoring the will of the voters. Yet you backed him, 100%.”[5]
Greene has recently attempted to “rebrand” herself, straddling the lines between the furthest right parts of her party and some portions of the establishment wing.[6]
0. “‘National divorce': Greene calls for US to separate by red states and blue states” Daily Mail, 20 Feb. 2023, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11773007/National-divorce-Greene-calls-separate-red-states-blue-states.html
1. “‘We need a national divorce': And Marjorie Taylor Greene thinks she's getting the house” Augusta Free Press, 20 Feb. 2023, https://augustafreepress.com/news/we-need-a-national-divorce-and-marjorie-taylor-greene-thinks-shes-getting-the-house
2. “Congresswoman Calls for Separation of States as Part of “National Divorce” | Daily News Now” NewsBreak Original, 20 Feb. 2023, https://original.newsbreak.com/@daily-news-now-1602563/2931305082054-congresswoman-calls-for-separation-of-states-as-part-of-national-divorce
3. “MTG calls for ‘national divorce' between red and blue states” msnNOW, 20 Feb. 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mtg-calls-for-national-divorce-between-red-and-blue-states/ar-AA17J7pT
4. “Rep. Taylor Greene suggests ‘national divorce' on Presidents Day” Yahoo Life, 20 Feb. 2023, https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/rep-taylor-greene-suggests-national-145353587.html
5. “Marjorie Taylor Greene Bemoans GOP Voters Believing ‘Liars and Grifters'” msnNOW, 20 Feb. 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/marjorie-taylor-greene-bemoans-gop-voters-believing-liars-and-grifters/ar-AA17HMyY
6. “Marjorie Taylor Greene Commits Borderline Sedition” The New Republic, 20 Feb. 2023, https://newrepublic.com/post/170674/marjorie-taylor-greene-national-divorce-tweet
