Marjorie Taylor Greene Rips 'Nauseating' Republicans

Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said Friday that it is "nauseating" to watch members of her party vie for former President Donald Trump's support ahead of the 2024 election.

Greene's comments come less than a month before GOP primary voters cast their ballots in the Iowa caucuses and as a handful of presidential hopefuls fight for the chance to beat out Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination. Preliminary polling shows the former president well ahead of his primary challengers, and Trump has gained endorsements from dozens of Republican lawmakers and governors, including Greene.

In a post to X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, Greene specifically called out Montana Representative Matt Rosendale, who is rumored to launch a 2024 Senate run in the coming weeks and publicly endorsed Trump last Monday. According to Greene, however, lawmakers like Rosendale only support the former president to boost their own race.

"It's nauseating watching politicians like Rosendale only run to Pres Trump for pictures and beg for endorsement when they want to get elected, but when Pres Trump ask for support they literally throw up their hands and turn their back," Greene wrote. "Can not be trusted."

Newsweek reached out to Trump's campaign via email for comment.

Rosendale has vocalized his support for the former president in the past but has also shown some defiance to members of his own party in the House (Greene's "perfect phone call" to Trump during January's House speaker votes was directed at Rosendale, who voted against former Speaker Kevin McCarthy until the last round).

The Montana conservative posted support for the former president's 2024 run in October, writing on X that Trump was needed "in the White House again."

Earlier this month, Rosendale used a photo op with Trump at Mar-a-Lago to tease his potential Senate run, writing on X on December 8 that it "was great to see the best President of my lifetime." Three days later, the Montana lawmaker made his official endorsement for 2024.

"I ENDORSE Donald J. Trump for President in the 2024 election!" Rosendale posted on December 11. "President Trump knows what it takes to save our country and has the record to prove it. I have always been proud to stand by his side as he has been focused on one thing: putting America first."

Craig Agranoff, a professor at Florida Atlantic University specializing in political campaigning, told Newsweek on Friday that while Greene's comments regarding Rosendale's supposed delay in endorsing Trump are "certainly provocative," "whether they're 'fair' depends on your perspective."

"From Greene's point of view, the delay could be seen as a calculated political move by Rosendale to keep his options open or cater to potential moderate voters," Agranoff said, referring to the time between Rosendale's visit to Mar-a-Lago and when he officially endorsed Trump.

"However, others might interpret it as a sign of Rosendale's reservations about Trump, particularly given the controversies surrounding the former president," Argranoff added.

In a statement to Newsweek via email Friday, Rosendale said that Trump is "the most EFFECTIVE leader our nation has had during my lifetime, and I have been proud to support him during my time in Congress and before I was elected."

The congressman added that he has "always stood by" the former president "not just when it was convenient," pointing out his support for Trump following the 2020 election, voting to expunge the former president's impeachments and standing beside Trump "the day [Manhattan District Attorney] Alvin Bragg abused his office and wrongfully indicted the [former] President."

Trump's campaign "undoubtedly desires Rosendale's endorsement, especially in a potentially competitive primary race," Argranoff said.

"Rosendale is a popular figure among certain segments of the Republican base, and his endorsement could give Trump a boost in Montana," he said. "However, Trump can likely secure other endorsements, so Rosendale's support isn't necessarily make-or-break."

Trump's reelection bid has been backed by 91 House Republicans, 19 GOP senators and seven governors as of Tuesday.

Endorsements for other Republican presidential hopefuls don't even come close: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has earned five House endorsements and support from two governors. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has only been backed by South Carolina Congressman Ralph Norman and New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu.

Argranoff noted that Trump could denounce Rosendale later on as a way to "punish" him for not endorsing him sooner.

"Alternatively, it could be a sign of Trump's growing frustration with the lack of enthusiasm from some parts of the Republican establishment," he told Newsweek. "Regardless of the reason, a public denouncement would likely add further drama and division to the already-contentious GOP primary landscape."