Differences between Donald Trump and Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene have escalated into a public feud, signaling a breakdown in the relationship between the US president and one of his fiercest defenders.
On Friday, Trump called Greene “stupid” in social media posts and said she should be unseated in next year's election. On Saturday, he called her a “traitor.”
In recent days, Greene has questioned whether Trump still embraces “America First” and criticized his handling of Jeffrey Epstein's files.
The feud comes as the House of Representatives is set to consider releasing the files.
“All I see 'Wacky' Marjorie do is complain, complain, complain!” Trump tweeted Friday night, claiming she attacked him after he suggested she not run for governor or senator in her home state of Georgia.
“She's told a lot of people that she's upset that I'm no longer answering her phone calls,” Trump said, adding, “I can't answer Crazy Man's rants every day.”
He vowed to support any Republican opponent who challenges her in next year's midterm elections when she is up for re-election, before escalating his attacks in social media posts Saturday from his home in Florida.
“Marjorie “Traitor” Green [sic] This is a disgrace to our GREAT REPUBLICAN PARTY!” he wrote.
The comments followed criticism from Greene, who said Trump was not doing enough to reduce costs for voters. She also condemned his recent decisions regarding foreign conflicts and tariff policies.
But she was most critical of his handling of Epstein's files.
The turnaround is notable for a lawmaker who has supported Trump through numerous scandals, most notably the 2021 Capitol riot, in which Trump supporters stormed the U.S. legislature in an attempt to block Trump's election defeat.
The US president also vigorously defended Greene when she was accused of promoting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.
Greene is one of four House Republicans who joined Democrats in signing a dismissal petition last week calling for the release of Epstein's files.
On Friday, Greene wrote on X that Trump was trying to stop other Republicans from voting for Epstein's petition.
“He is aggressively going after me to set an example to scare every other Republican before they vote on releasing the Epstein files next week,” she wrote, adding, “It’s actually amazing how hard he fights to keep the Epstein files from being released and that he actually got to this point.”
She returned to X on Saturday to say Trump had made her the target of threats “fueled and abetted by the most powerful man in the world.”
“As a Republican who votes overwhelmingly for President Trump's bills and agenda, his aggression against me… is completely shocking to everyone,” she wrote.
“I do not worship or serve Donald Trump,” she wrote in one post.
Former Republican pollster and strategist Robert Moran said it was clear the US president did not want Epstein's files to be made public and was “trying to put pressure” on Greene.
Mr Moran doubted the scandal would affect Mr Trump's popularity because the electorate was so divided, but said it was inevitable that the files would eventually come to light.
“Many of his constituents are skeptical of the government and therefore want to see the government held accountable and support the release of these files,” he added.
Trump has long faced criticism from both sides of the aisle over his handling of U.S. Justice Department files related to Epstein, the late financier and convicted pedophile.
Trump had been Epstein's friend for years, but the US president said the two had a falling out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing against Epstein.
