‘I am America First’: Marjorie Taylor Greene Criticizes Trump for Neglecting Domestic Priorities

During a segment on CBS News’ 60 Minutes, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene made it clear she has “no intention whatsoever” of entering the 2028 presidential race.

‘I think they’re terrified to step out of line and get a nasty Truth Social post on them,’ Greene said of her colleagues’ attitudes toward Trump. Photograph: Kamil Krzaczynski,jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

In the highly anticipated interview, the Georgia Republican took direct aim at former President Donald Trump — once her closest political ally — accusing him of provoking death threats against her and her son and falling short on his pledge to prioritize the needs of everyday Americans.

“For someone claiming the mantle of ‘America First,’ the primary focus should have been what’s happening here at home — and it wasn’t. So naturally I raised concerns, because those were the promises I ran on,” Greene said in the interview that aired Sunday. “Fix our problems first, and then we can worry about the rest of the world.”

When host Lesley Stahl pressed her on whether she still considers herself part of the MAGA movement, Greene responded:

“I’m America First. … MAGA is Trump’s branding. Those are his policies. I call myself America First.”

Her comments echo frustrations voiced by other Republicans who say Trump and the party aren’t moving urgently enough to tackle inflation and affordability issues weighing on families. Trump has recently touted easing gas prices and signed an executive order directing an investigation into anti-competitive behavior that may be disrupting food supply chains.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended Trump’s record in a statement Sunday night, stating:

“In a remarkably short period, President Trump has already begun delivering on key pledges. He’s secured the border; confronted Biden’s inflation crisis; reduced drug prices; eliminated taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security; cooled inflation; deported criminal illegal immigrants; enacted major reforms benefiting American workers; and more.”

She continued: “As the founder of the MAGA movement, President Trump will always prioritize America. Every day he continues pushing forward on the promises he made, and he will keep delivering.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., spoke with Lesley Stahl on CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” which aired Sunday.CBS / 60 Minutes

Greene’s interview came just weeks after her stunning announcement that she will step down from Congress in January — a full year before her term ends. Her resignation followed her dramatic break with Trump and GOP leadership when she signed a bipartisan discharge petition to force a vote compelling the release of government records related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump retaliated by labeling her “Marjorie Traitor Greene.” And when Greene publicly said she had received threats because of his attacks, Trump brushed it off: “I don’t think her life is in danger. … I don’t think anybody cares about her.”

Greene told 60 Minutes that while Trump was attacking her and trying to block the release of the Epstein files, he was hosting controversial foreign figures and New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

“He did this during the same stretch of time when President Trump met with the Al Qaeda leader once wanted by the U.S. — who is now president of Syria. Then, within days, he sat down with Crown Prince MBS, responsible for murdering an American journalist,” Greene said, referring to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “And then he met with New York’s newly elected Democratic socialist mayor. That was the period he chose to call me a traitor.”

When Stahl asked whether Trump had effectively forced her out of politics, Greene pushed back:

“No, not at all. … I won’t be anyone’s battered wife. And I won’t allow the system to mistreat me anymore.”

She recounted a tense phone exchange in which Trump tried to pressure her into abandoning the discharge petition on the Epstein documents.

“We did discuss the Epstein files, and he was livid that I had signed the petition to release them,” she told Stahl. “I believe the victims deserve everything they’re asking for. They want transparency, and they have every right to it. He was furious. … He said releasing them would hurt people.”

Ultimately, Greene — along with three other GOP lawmakers — refused to bow to Trump’s demands. The Epstein transparency bill reached the House floor, where all but one member voted to compel Trump’s Justice Department to release the files. The Senate unanimously approved it, and Trump quietly signed the bill into law.

According to Greene, Trump’s anger unleashed a wave of violent threats against her and her son. She said she forwarded the messages, including threats targeting her child, to Trump — only to be met with what she described as a cold, accusatory response.

Earlier Sunday, she shared more details on X, writing that Trump “replied with harsh accusations and no sympathy.”

Greene noted that she also sent the threats to FBI Director Kash Patel, who told her he was “on it,” and to Vice President JD Vance, who responded with compassion.

During the 60 Minutes interview, Greene also rejected widespread speculation that her noisy break from Trump is part of a plan to launch a presidential run in 2028.

“I’ve said it repeatedly: I have zero plans and zero desire to run for president. I’d never want to be in the Senate. I’m not running for governor,” Greene said. “And even when I say it directly to people, they still don’t believe me.”

“They’re like, ‘Sure you’re not.’ Wink, wink. And I’m sitting here thinking, I don’t know how to make it more obvious.”