Feud Between Trump and Greene Intensifies Just Days Before Key Epstein Files Vote

A high-stakes public feud has exploded between U.S. President Donald Trump and Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of his most vocal congressional defenders, just days before a pivotal House vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files. The clash began on Friday when Trump took to social media to brand Greene “wacky” and urged Republicans to unseat her in the 2026 midterms, citing her incessant complaints and alleging she was upset over his refusal to return her calls. By Saturday, from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump escalated the rhetoric, labelling her “Marjorie ‘Traitor’ Green” and declaring her a “disgrace” to the Republican Party, marking a stunning breakdown in a once-ironclad alliance forged during the 2021 Capitol riot and multiple Trump scandals.

The immediate trigger is Greene’s aggressive push for the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandates the Justice Department to declassify and release all unredacted investigative materials, communications, and records related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Greene was among only four House Republicans to sign a discharge petition last week—joining Democrats—to force a floor vote, expected as early as Tuesday under Speaker Mike Johnson’s commitment. She has accused Trump of actively working to block GOP support, posting on X that he is “coming after me hard to make an example” and scare other lawmakers, warning that his opposition risks burying evidence of elite involvement in Epstein’s crimes.

Trump’s fury appears rooted in both personal and political grievances. He claimed Greene turned hostile after he advised her against running for higher office in Georgia and mocked her as a “ranting lunatic” whose daily calls he could no longer tolerate. Yet the Epstein issue has clearly struck a nerve: Trump was a long-time social acquaintance of Epstein before their reported fallout in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein’s first arrest in 2005. Though Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing and banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago, the prospect of unsealed files—potentially revealing flight logs, witness statements, or communications—poses a significant reputational risk, especially as his administration faces scrutiny over past Justice Department handling of the case.

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Greene, undeterred, doubled down on Saturday, declaring on X that she serves “GA14 and the American people”, not Trump, and asserting, “I worship God; Jesus is my saviour.” She accused the president of fuelling threats against her by targeting her publicly, a charge that underscores the personal toll of the rift. Once a fierce Trump loyalist who defended him during impeachments and promoted his election fraud claims, Greene has recently criticised his tariff policies, foreign conflict decisions, and failure to curb inflation—signalling a broader disillusionment with his second-term agenda. Her stance on the Epstein files, however, has become the flashpoint, positioning her as a rare GOP voice demanding transparency on a case tied to powerful figures across both parties.

Former Republican strategist Robert Moran told the BBC that Trump “does not want the Epstein files released” and is using Greene as leverage to pressure congressional Republicans. Moran noted that while the president’s base remains loyal, many are deeply sceptical of institutional power and support disclosure, believing it aligns with “draining the swamp”. He predicted the files will eventually surface regardless of Trump’s efforts, given bipartisan momentum and public demand. The vote will test GOP unity: with only a slim majority, defections could pass the bill, forcing the Justice Department to act and potentially exposing decades of investigative material long shielded from public view.

As the Epstein vote looms, this feud exposes fragile fault lines within Trump’s MAGA coalition and raises urgent questions about accountability, loyalty, and the limits of presidential influence over Congress. For Greene, survival now hinges on navigating a primary challenge backed by Trump himself; for the president, the episode risks reinforcing perceptions of self-preservation over transparency. With threats reportedly escalating against the congresswoman and the nation watching, the outcome of next week’s vote may redefine not just the Epstein legacy but also the future of Trump’s grip on the Republican Party.

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