Lead: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said Saturday she has received threats and security warnings after President Donald Trump publicly criticized her and withdrew his endorsement. Greene, a Republican from Georgia who once staunchly backed Trump, said private security firms have contacted her about elevated risk. The dispute follows Trump’s social-media posts calling her “wacky” and a “traitor” and suggesting he might back a primary challenger. U.S. Capitol Police data and congressional sources show threats against lawmakers have increased in recent years.
Key Takeaways
- Greene said she has been contacted by private security firms warning of threats to her safety after Trump’s public rebuke on social media.
- Trump rescinded his endorsement, called Greene “wacky” and said she betrayed the party; he also floated supporting a primary challenger.
- U.S. Capitol Police reported 9,474 investigations of concerning statements or direct threats against lawmakers in a recent 2024 report.
- Greene has recently split with GOP leadership on issues including healthcare during the October–November government shutdown and on foreign policy priorities.
- Greene and three other House Republicans resisted White House pressure to withdraw a petition seeking release of Justice Department files tied to Jeffrey Epstein.
- House Oversight released Epstein-related documents this week, including emails that reference Trump; Trump denies any wrongdoing.
Background
Marjorie Taylor Greene rose to national prominence as an outspoken supporter of Donald Trump during and after his presidency, aligning with his agenda and voting consistently for his policy priorities. Their alliance frayed as Greene has in recent weeks criticized Trump for emphasizing foreign policy and not prioritizing what she describes as an “America First” domestic focus. The break widened during the federal government shutdown that began in October and extended into early November, when Greene publicly opposed GOP leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, over healthcare solutions.
The broader political context includes heightened polarization within the Republican Party and an active primary season ahead of the 2024 cycle, during which endorsements and intra-party disputes can reshape local races. At the same time, threats against public officials have risen: the U.S. Capitol Police reported a growing volume of threat-assessment cases, reflecting a security environment lawmakers say is increasingly fraught. Lawmakers have cited both online harassment and direct threats as contributing factors to concerns about personal safety.
Main Event
On Saturday, Greene posted that private security firms had alerted her to threats and that the surge in hostility has been amplified, she said, by Trump’s critical posts. Her social-media statement emphasized that she still overwhelmingly supports the president’s bills and agenda yet feels targeted by his comments and the attendant backlash from online supporters. Greene framed the threats as directly tied to the language and influence coming from the president’s posts.
Trump, posting on his platform, described Greene as having “betrayed” the party and called her a “disgrace,” while also labeling her “wacky” and accusing her of complaining. He added that he might endorse another Republican in a primary challenge — a move that would be rare but not unprecedented in intra-party policing. The president’s remarks were public and repeated across his social channels on Saturday morning.
The U.S. Capitol Police did not immediately comment on Greene’s public social-media posts when asked; the agency’s 2024 report, however, documented that threat-assessment cases rose for a second consecutive year, citing 9,474 investigations of concerning statements and direct threats. Members of Congress have raised alarm about personal safety in the wake of high-profile attacks and threats in recent years, prompting increased security coordination with both private firms and federal agencies.
Separately, Greene has pushed for release of Justice Department materials connected to Jeffrey Epstein, joining a small group of Republicans who refused to withdraw a petition that would force a floor vote on the matter. Greene suggested in her posts that pressure over the Epstein files may be a reason for Trump’s criticism, and she reiterated her intent to press for transparency on the documents released by House Oversight this week.
Analysis & Implications
The public falling-out between Greene and Trump illustrates the fragility of political alliances in a party balancing establishment priorities and insurgent factions. Greene’s claims of threats tied to presidential rhetoric highlight how leader-to-supporter communications can cascade into real-world safety concerns for elected officials. If party leaders use public denunciations as a tool to discipline members, those public messages can carry security consequences that require response from law-enforcement and protective services.
Politically, Trump’s withdrawal of endorsement signals a willingness to punish dissent within the party, particularly when members push issues — like release of Epstein-related materials — that force uncomfortable scrutiny. Such intra-party disputes can reshape local primaries and may encourage primary challenges that consume resources and attention. For incumbents, the prospect of losing a presidential endorsement complicates fundraising and voter outreach strategies ahead of 2024.
From a security perspective, the USCP figures suggest the uptick in threats is systemic rather than episodic. That trend places additional strain on protective resources and can lead members to rely more on private security, as Greene described. Increased private security engagement raises questions about equity and consistency of protection for lawmakers, and it may change how congressional offices prioritize constituent access versus safety protocols.
Comparison & Data
| Year | USCP Threat-Assessment Cases |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Data not in this article |
| 2023 | Reported increase (prior year) |
| 2024 | 9,474 investigations |
The USCP number cited in its 2024 report demonstrates a multiyear rise in threat assessments. While year-by-year breakdowns and methodology details are contained in the full report, the single-year figure underscores a challenging security environment for members of Congress and staff. That trend should be interpreted alongside broader indicators — including social-media amplification of political disputes and the use of private security by some members — to assess how protection needs are evolving.
Reactions & Quotes
“I am now being contacted by private security firms with warnings for my safety…”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), social-media post
Greene framed the surge in hostile messages and warnings as a consequence of Trump’s public criticism and of radical online actors she says are encouraged by his posts. She linked her stance on releasing Epstein-related files to the escalation in attacks against her.
“She betrayed the party… a traitor and a disgrace”
Donald J. Trump, social-media posts
Trump’s short, public denunciations of Greene emphasized his displeasure at her criticism and signaled his openness to supporting a primary opponent against an incumbent he views as disloyal. That posture can alter the competitive landscape in Republican primaries.
“Threat assessment cases have climbed for the second year in a row.”
U.S. Capitol Police, 2024 report (summary)
The USCP summary points to an institutional recognition of elevated risk to lawmakers, which informs both protective measures and public debate over security resources for elected officials.
Unconfirmed
- Reports referenced in some summaries mention an “assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk” — that specific claim appears inconsistent with public records and is unverified here.
- Greene suggested foreign pressure may be connected to the Epstein files; that linkage remains speculative and has not been substantiated by available evidence.
- Any direct causal link between Trump’s posts and specific, actionable threats against Greene has not been independently corroborated in public records at this time.
Bottom Line
The public dispute between Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and former President Trump has escalated beyond political disagreement into claims of personal risk, with Greene reporting private security warnings and pointing to an environment of amplified hostility. The episode illustrates how intra-party conflicts, when played out on social platforms by prominent figures, can have tangible security consequences for lawmakers and staff.
Institutional data from the U.S. Capitol Police showing 9,474 investigations in the 2024 reporting period indicate a broader, rising trend in threats and concerning statements directed at members of Congress. Policymakers and security officials will face pressure to balance transparency, constituent access and personal safety as the 2024 campaign season unfolds.
For readers, the key items to watch are whether Trump or other senior Republicans further escalate public criticism, whether additional security incidents tied to the dispute emerge, and what, if any, changes federal or congressional protection policies adopt in response to rising threat volumes.
Sources
- NBC News (news report)
- U.S. Capitol Police (official report summary, 2024)
- House Oversight and Reform Committee (official — documents release)