Rift in Trumpworld: Marjorie Taylor Greene Resigns After Epstein Files Dispute

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announced her resignation Friday night, framing her departure as the latest chapter in a long-running outsider posture. In a recorded statement, she said she had "always represented the common American man and woman" and criticized what she called a "political industrial complex" that manipulates voters across election cycles.

Key issues and the split with Trump

Greene's remarks reiterated her familiar populist, America First themes. She complained that "Americans' hard-earned tax dollars always fund foreign wars, foreign aid, and foreign interests," and listed policy grievances from H-1B visas and proposed AI moratoriums to what she described as "debt-for-life 50-year mortgage scams." She also renewed a demand for release of the Epstein files and emphasized her loyalty to her constituents.

Until recently, Greene and former President Donald Trump appeared aligned. Their relationship frayed over Greene's public push for full disclosure of the Epstein files, a stance Trump initially resisted. In response to her insistence, Trump publicly mused about a primary challenger and called her a "ranting lunatic." He later added, "I don't know what happened to Marjorie. Nice woman, but I don't know what happened. She's lost her way, I think."

Local support and political fallout

Despite the national split, Greene retains solid local backing. Meredith Rosson, chairwoman of the Republican Party in Chattooga County, praised her for standing her ground, and the county Republican organization in Floyd County issued a statement of "unwavering support" after the resignation. Local business owners and activists in Greene's district say she has positioned herself as a defender of community interests even as she breaks with party leaders.

The dispute over the Epstein files opened space for Greene to broaden her criticisms of Trump, accusing him of drifting away from a domestic agenda and not delivering meaningful financial relief for ordinary Americans. The conflict intensified during the recent government shutdown, when Greene said she did not "see political party lines" on issues like health care and warned that many Americans could face rising premiums without a credible plan to prevent them.

Other items in the roundup

Crime and policy: Commentator Tal Fortgang invoked James Q. Wilson's long-standing argument that violent crime is concentrated among a small group of repeat offenders and said incapacitation — keeping violent individuals from striking again — is an essential remedy. He cited data showing a small number of repeat offenders account for a large share of repeat shoplifting arrests in New York City.

New York meeting: President Trump met with incoming New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and described the conversation as productive, saying they found common ground and that "the new word is affordability." Both men appeared cordial during their discussion.

Media controversy: Columnist Stephanie Slade criticized Tucker Carlson for platforming Gen Z livestreamer Nick Fuentes, noting Fuentes' history of offensive remarks and warning that mainstream media figures who normalize such voices risk a lasting reputational cost.

Markets: Market flow data show U.S.-listed Bitcoin exchange-traded funds experienced heavy redemptions in November, with roughly $3.5 billion withdrawn across the group so far in the month. One major Bitcoin fund, IBIT, recorded about $2.2 billion in redemptions during the period and risks posting its worst monthly outflow unless flows reverse.

Other notes: Some Republicans in North Carolina expressed unease about federal immigration raids in their districts. Separately, the original author of the piece said they received angry messages after defending so-called "tradwives."