(NewsNation) — Just after Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announced her resignation from office, President Donald Trump renewed his attacks and continued to call her a traitor.
“Marjorie ‘Traitor’ Brown, because of PLUMMETING Poll Numbers, and not wanting to face a Primary Challenger with a strong Trump Endorsement (where she would have no chance of winning!), has decided to call it ‘quits,'” Trump wrote on social media.
The Georgia Congresswoman, who recently became engaged in a public feud with her longtime ally Trump, said Friday she is leaving office Jan. 5.
Greene, 51, posted a long statement on social media, saying she wants to avoid a primary battle with a Trump-backed opponent next year. She also cited “nonstop never ending personal attacks, death threats, lawfare, ridiculous slander and lies about me.”
“I refuse to be a ‘battered wife’ hoping it all goes away and gets better,” Greene said in a statement.
The businesswoman was first elected to Congress in 2020 as a staunch supporter of Trump and his “Make America Great Again” populist movement. Detractors faulted her for believing conspiracy theories such as QAnon and for remarks that critics called antisemitic.
More recently, she had broken with Trump on economic issues and for her backing of a measure to force the release of Justice Department files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump branded her a “traitor” and “wacky” and said he would endorse a challenger against her when she ran for reelection next year.
Greene said the president’s attacks had effectively put her life in danger.
While there has been an onslaught of lawmakers from both parties heading for the exits ahead of next fall’s midterm elections, as the House struggles through an often chaotic session, Greene’s announced retirement will ripple throughout the ranks — and raise questions about her next moves.
Trump calls Greene exit ‘great news’
Trump on Friday night said Greene’s announcement is “great news for the country.”
The president followed up his comment with a social post on Saturday morning calling her a “Traitor” who didn’t want to face a “Challenger with a strong Trump Endorsement.”
“For some reason, primarily that I refused to return her never ending barrage of phone calls, Marjorie went BAD,” Trump wrote. “Nevertheless, I will always appreciate Marjorie, and thank her for her service to our Country!”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.