ATLANTA — Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia announced Friday night that she will resign her seat in the US House of Representatives, with her last day in office set for Jan. 5.
The unexpected move follows a highly public dispute with former President Donald Trump, a figure she ardently supported. Greene, 51, has represented Georgia’s 14th Congressional District since 2021 and rose to national prominence as a vocal MAGA (Make America Great Again) stalwart.
Her tenure was marked by frequent clashes in Congress, controversial statements, and a reputation for embracing conspiracy theories. Her resignation comes amid growing tensions with Trump, whom she once championed.
The break appears to have been catalyzed by her support for a bill to force the Department of Justice to release investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender. Greene also publicly criticized Trump for prioritizing meetings with foreign leaders over domestic concerns.
In a video posted to X (formerly Twitter), Greene said she decided to step down “out of self‑respect” and love for her family. “I have too much self respect and dignity, love my family too much,” she said, adding that she did not want her constituents to endure a “hurtful and hateful primary” at Trump’s urging.
Political analysts say Greene’s resignation is a dramatic turn for a figure once central to Trump’s base.
“Greene has long leveraged her alignment with Trump to build her brand,” said Dr. Elena Martinez, a political science professor at Georgia State University. “For her to step down in the face of his criticism signals a real rupture in the MAGA coalition.”
John Carlisle, a former GOP strategist, agreed. “This is more than a political calculation. She is acknowledging that without Trump’s support and arguably because of his opposition her position becomes untenable.”
Greene herself framed her resignation as a rejection of continued infighting. In her statement, she added, “I refuse to be a ‘battered wife’ hoping it all goes away and gets better.”
Greene’s move is not without precedent, though it is rare for a high profile member of Congress to resign mid term under such circumstances. According to a tally by the Congressional Research Service, fewer than twenty members of the House have resigned in similar fashion over the past decade.
Public polling in Georgia’s 14th District a solidly Republican area suggests that Greene’s departure may not immediately change the partisan balance.
In the last midterm election, she won by a margin of more than 30 percentage points. But her exit could nevertheless spark a competitive Republican primary, especially if a Trump backed challenger emerges.
Reactions in Greene’s district were mixed.
“I’m sad to see her go,” said Melanie Hayes, a Tea Party aligned activist in Rome, Georgia. “She gave us a voice in Washington and didn’t back down on tough issues.”
But not everyone is lamenting her departure. “She often stirred up controversy rather than produce results,” said James Whitfield, a retired teacher in Lindale. “Maybe this is an opportunity for a different kind of leadership.”
Local Republican officials say they are already preparing for a special election. State party chairwoman Rosa Jenkins called Greene’s resignation “a turning point” and said the party will move quickly to identify a successor.
Greene’s resignation opens a political vacuum in her district. A special election will likely be called, pitting would be successors against one another perhaps including Trump endorsed candidates.
At the national level, her departure deepens questions about the cohesion of Trump’s movement. If Greene, one of his most recognizable allies, publicly splits with him and exits Congress, it could embolden other Republicans who have grown frustrated with his influence.
Policy watchers are also eyeing the Epstein transparency bill that helped trigger the break. Without Greene in Congress, the future of that legislation is uncertain.
Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation, effective Jan. 5, marks a dramatic turn for a polarizing figure who once embodied the unapologetic wing of the MAGA movement.
Her break with Donald Trump, framed in stark personal terms, signals not just a political ending but perhaps a wider fracture in the coalition she helped build.