Marjorie Taylor Greene, political commentator and former U.S. representative, sat down with a New York Times reporter at the Texas Tribune Festival Thursday to discuss her political outlook in the aftermath of her resignation from Congress earlier this year.
In the opening keynote, Greene explained her grievances with the Make America Great Again movement, her current political point of view and her thoughts on the state of partisan politics.
Greene, R-Ga., who served as one of the nation’s most well-known representatives and a figurehead of the MAGA movement since taking office in 2021, resigned in January following escalating disagreements with President Donald Trump and other high-ranking Republicans.
In an August social media post, Greene appeared in a picture with Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and political commentator Tucker Carlson, prominent anti-Trump Republicans, criticizing the president’s war in Iran and proclaiming a new “right, left, and center,” and “America First” political movement.
“I think MAGA is dead,” Greene said. “As an American, I feel like both parties have failed us. It’s both parties (that) have led us to $40 trillion in debt. Both parties have made decisions over the decades, aligning themselves with corporations that have reduced American jobs, sent jobs overseas, factories overseas.”
Greene described MAGA as a “cult” that abandoned the U.S.-centric priorities that had initially excited her. Looking ahead, Greene said voters are ready for an alternative to what the two-party political establishment provides.
“These aren’t stupid people,” Greene said. “These are people that really hate the government … and are angry about government leaders’ decisions.”
In her time as a representative, Greene received criticism for her role as a provocateur for MAGA and the political right. Since her exit from Congress, Greene said she regrets her participation in “toxic politics.”
“I think I’m the only politician that has said I regret my role in toxic politics, and I myself was also the target of toxic politics,” Greene said. “It’s easy for me to say that, and I’m glad to say it, but I really hope others say it too.”
Greene said that she has no intention of running for another public office because of her disillusionment with the current culture of politics.
“The two-party political system is an absolute failure, continuing to fight each other, launching bombs from the right and the left doesn’t solve any of our problems,” Greene said. “It just continues our problems, and so I really feel sorry for the kids … they don’t trust the government already, and they see a government that’s completely failed them.”
