Greene: House Republicans Mock Trump Privately — Then Fall In Line Out Of Fear

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene told 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl that many House Republicans ridicule former President Donald Trump in private but publicly praise him out of fear after he secured the 2024 Republican nomination.

What Greene Said

In the interview, Greene said colleagues who once joked about Trump and even about her support for him suddenly changed their tone after the 2024 primary. "Behind the scenes, do they talk differently?" Stahl asked. Greene replied: "Yes." She added that lawmakers who had mocked Trump began publicly embracing him once he clinched the nomination.

"I watched many of my colleagues go from making fun of him... to, when he won the primary in 2024, they all started, excuse my language, kissing his a--, and decided to put on a MAGA hat for the first time." — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

Fear of Public Reprisal

Greene told Stahl that fear of public backlash — particularly harsh posts on Trump's social platform — helps explain the shift. "I think they're terrified to step out of line and get a nasty Truth Social post on them, yes," she said, suggesting that potential personal attacks keep lawmakers from speaking candidly in public.

Flashpoint: The Epstein Files

Greene said the immediate breaking point between her and Trump involved her decision to sign a discharge petition to force a House vote on releasing files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump publicly berated Greene on Truth Social, calling her a "ranting Lunatic," mocking her as "Wacky" Marjorie and saying he would withdraw his support and back efforts to defeat her in a Republican primary.

Resignation And Broader GOP Tension

About a week after Trump's post, Greene announced she would resign from Congress effective Jan. 5, 2026. Some Republicans say her departure could signal wider unrest within the House GOP. A senior Republican told Punchbowl that morale is low and predicted more early resignations, calling the situation a "tinder box."

"This entire White House team has treated ALL members like garbage. ALL. And Mike Johnson has let it happen because he wanted it to happen... More explosive early resignations are coming. It's a tinder box. Morale has never been lower." — Senior Republican (Punchbowl)

Greene acknowledged that her relationship with Trump soured over recent months as she voiced frustration with the direction of the MAGA movement, but she said the dispute over the Epstein files was the proximate cause of the public fallout. The Daily Beast reports it has reached out to the White House for comment.