Amid the Iran war, former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, criticized President Donald Trump on Saturday, sharing one of his social media posts from 2019 about the “policing and fighting in the Middle East.”
In an X post on Saturday, the former congresswoman accused the president of abandoning his anti‑war promises and sending U.S. troops into a new conflict that she says will cost “trillions more and precious lives.”
Why It Matters
On February 28, the United States and Israel targeted key military targets in Iran and killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other government leaders. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones targeting Israel and several Gulf Arab states that host U.S. armed forces. Thirteen U.S. service members have died in the conflict with Iran, with over 300 wounded.
Greene, who retired from Congress earlier this year, was one of Trump’s most vocal allies until she had a public falling out with Trump, making her break notable within the Republican base. She previously criticized the president over his stance on foreign policy issues, health care and the release of government files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Her recent comments highlight growing intra‑party tension over the expanding U.S. military role in the Middle East as thousands of U.S. troops deploy to the region.
What To Know
Greene argued that deploying U.S. troops risks pulling the country into another costly conflict and says her criticism stems from the same “America First” principles she supported during Trump’s first term.
Trump and his administration have countered that the deployments are necessary to deter Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon, protect U.S. forces in the region, and prevent further attacks on American or allied targets.
Greene reposted Trump’s message about the Middle East from October 2019, was made during the president’s first term, which read: “The United States has spent EIGHT TRILLION DOLLARS fighting and policing in the Middle East. Thousands of out Great Soldier have died or been badly wounded. Millions of people have died on the other side. GOING INTO THE MIDDLE EAST IS THE WORST DECISION EVER MADE….”
In response, Greene wrote, “This was one of reasons many of us supported Donald Trump. Where has this man gone?”
She added: “Now he’s sending US troops into another Middle East war that will cost us trillions more and precious lives. No wonder he turned his back on me for fighting him to release the Epstein files. What would cause a man to change so much?”
Meanwhile, Trump reposted a clip on Truth Social on Monday from a 1987 interview with journalist Barbara Walters in which he argued the United States should seize Iranian oil installations in response to attacks, resurfacing remarks he made long before entering politics.
In the interview, conducted during the Iran‑Iraq War and years after the Iranian hostage crisis, Trump told Walters the U.S. should respond forcefully to Iranian aggression. When pressed on how such a move would work, including whether it could mean war, Trump argued weakness itself invited conflict and said the U.S. should seize and hold oil installations to offset losses.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday morning: “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!”
Senator James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican, on NBC News’ Meet the Press last Sunday when asked about troops on the ground in Iran: “To be very clear on this, the worst thing that can happen is to be able to have this kind of conflict start and to not end it, to leave it undone. We’ve got to be able to finish this…If this is special forces to be able to carry out a specific operation—get in, get out—-that’s very different than longstanding occupation.”
Representative Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, said last Sunday during an appearance on CNN: “If we’re going to do a conventional ground operation with Marines and 82nd Airborne, that is a ground war that I believe Congress should have a say and we should be briefed,” Mace said while appearing on CNN. “We don’t want troops on the ground.”
Read the full article here
