- Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly blasted GOP leadership for failing to end the government shutdown, urging elimination of the 60-vote filibuster.
- Her rebellion deepens GOP fractures—fueling intra-party fights, potential realignment, and influence ahead of midterms.
WASHINGTON — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) turned up the heat on her own party this week, tearing into what she calls the “weak Republican men” in Congress during a fiery October 13, 2025, appearance on Newsmax.
The conservative firebrand’s latest broadside—delivered as the government shutdown stretches into its 13th day—accuses GOP leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson, of caving to pressure and failing to deliver on campaign promises, further exposing the deep fractures within the Republican Party.
With the House paralyzed and public frustration mounting, Greene’s outspoken defiance has left allies exasperated and opponents gleeful, setting the stage for a potential showdown as midterms loom.
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Greene (MTG) didn’t hold back on Newsmax’s Rob Schmitt Tonight, declaring, “There’s a lot of weak Republican men and they’re more afraid of strong Republican women.”
The comment, as reported by The Daily Beast, came as she criticized Johnson’s handling of the shutdown, which began October 1 after Congress failed to pass a budget.
Greene has been vocal about her disdain, posting on X that the Senate should ditch the 60-vote filibuster to end the impasse with a simple Republican majority, a move Johnson reportedly dismissed as impractical in a tense phone call last week.
“He told me they can’t do it and it’s math,” she recounted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
The Georgia lawmaker’s outburst follows a pattern of rebellion. In recent weeks, she’s clashed with party leaders over healthcare subsidies, urging extensions she later called “shameful” hikes, and co-sponsored the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), filing a discharge petition on October 8 to force a House vote.
Her June 2025 labeling of Israel’s Gaza actions as “genocide”—a first for a GOP member—drew ire from hardliners like Laura Loomer, who’s predicted Greene might flip to the Democrats for a 2028 presidential run. Greene’s retort on The Tim Dillon Podcast last Saturday, suggesting Trump’s tariff strategy needs a “smarter plan,” only fueled the speculation.
Party Infighting Escalates: From Epstein to Shutdown
Greene’s latest series of events has GOP colleagues on edge. The Hill reported on October 13, 2025, that her deepening splits with the party—over Jeffrey Epstein records, healthcare, and now the shutdown—have left some Republicans puzzled.
House Speaker Johnson, in a “thoughtful” conversation with Greene per the report, tried to smooth things over after her filibuster push, but tensions persist. “I’m sick and tired of Republicans in Congress not passing the agenda, not doing what they say they’re going to do, not governing the way they campaign,” Greene told The Hill.
The shutdown, triggered by a $1.2 trillion spending bill deadlock, has amplified her critique. AP News on October 11 noted that internal GOP conflicts—hallmarks of the modern party—have stalled governance, with hard-right factions like Greene’s clashing with moderates.
The Congressional Budget Office warned on October 12 that a prolonged stalemate could cut 0.5% from GDP, furloughing 800,000 federal workers, including CDC staff, and halting programs like WIC for 6.5 million families. Greene’s “nuclear option” call to bypass the filibuster, posted on X October 9, drew a sharp rebuke from Sen. Mitch McConnell, who called it “reckless” in a Senate floor speech.
Her Epstein push adds fuel. The Atlantic on October 9, 2025, highlighted Greene as a “new voice” for transparency, noting Trump’s reported “panic” over her discharge petition, which now has four GOP co-sponsors.
NBC News on October 8 reported Trump asking allies, “What’s going on with Marjorie?”—a sign of his unease with her rogue streak. Yet Greene’s district remains a GOP stronghold, giving her leeway few others have.
Broader Context: A Party at War with Itself
The GOP’s internal strife isn’t new. Pew Research Center’s April 24, 2025, analysis found Republicans have shifted further right than Democrats have left, with ideological gaps wider than in 50 years.
Greene’s clashes fit this trend, from her 2023 ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy to her current shutdown stance.
The Washington Post on October 14 reported her texting Johnson angrily over the filibuster snub, while The Hill noted her exasperation with “high expectations” unmet by GOP men.
Elsewhere, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.)—another Trump critic—praised MIT’s rejection of federal funding strings on October 10, signaling a libertarian wing Greene might align with. Meanwhile, Marjorie Taylor Greene spent part of last week fielding angry texts from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana).
She posted on social media that the Senate should abolish the 60-vote filibuster threshold so senators can end the government shutdown with just Republican votes.
“He told me they can’t do it and it’s math,” Greene said.
The party’s base is split. A Quinnipiac poll on October 2, 2025, showed 55% of Republicans back Trump’s leadership, but 62% of all voters worry about GOP dysfunction.
Gallup on October 4 pegged congressional approval at 18%, a nadir reflecting shutdown fallout. Greene’s X posts, like her October 7 call to “stop the madness,” resonate with frustrated conservatives but alienate moderates.
What’s Next: A Reckoning or Realignment?
As the shutdown drags on, Greene’s rhetoric could force a vote on her filibuster plan, risking a party fracture. The Guardian on October 7, 2025, reported her openness to a bipartisan healthcare deal, hinting at a potential realignment.
TIME on October 13 speculated she might split from the GOP, citing her Gaza and Epstein stances.
Yet her August 4 Guardian interview pledged no exit: “The Republican party has lost touch with its base,” she said, stopping short of a break.
For now, Greene’s “weak men” jab has GOP leaders scrambling. Johnson’s office declined comment, but sources told The Hill he’s weighing a compromise to appease her.
With midterms seven weeks away, her influence—love it or hate it—could tip the balance.
As one aide put it off-record to AP News, “She’s a thorn, but she’s our thorn.” Whether that thorn pricks the party into action or tears it apart remains to be seen.
Regardless, public sentiment has shown a likeness to GOP leaders such as Greene and Massie as they seek transparency within our government.
Also Read: Republicans Face Growing Backlash as Voters Blame Them for Govt. Shutdown
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