Marjorie Taylor Greene's Move to Censure Rashida Tlaib Backfires

Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene's effort to censure Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib may have backfired as Greene is now facing potential censure herself.

Representative Becca Balint, a freshman Democrat, introduced a resolution aiming to censure Greene in the House of Representatives on Thursday and accused the Republican of using "Islamophobic" rhetoric.

Greene has called Tlaib, who is Muslim, an "Israel hating America hating woman who does not represent anything America stands for" and introduced a resolution to the House floor on Thursday to censure the Democrat over her response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Balint originally introduced a resolution to censure Greene on July 25, listing a number of statements Greene has made and accusing her of "perpetuating conspiracy theories" related to the 9/11 attacks and the January 6 Capitol riot.

The resolution also highlights that Greene showed explicit images of President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, during a congressional hearing as part of a series of other criticisms.

On Thursday, Balint moved a privileged resolution on the matter which the House will have to consider within two legislative days. However, with a GOP majority in the chamber it appears likely the resolution will be tabled—effectively killing it.

Balint took aim at newly elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson in her remarks on Thursday and criticized him for allowing Greene to bring her censure resolution against Tlaib.

"The fact that on the very first day of his leadership, he lets Marjorie Taylor Greene bring to the floor a resolution that is riddled with lies and falsehoods on my colleague—it won't stand," Balint said.

"This woman, Marjorie Taylor Greene—it seems to be her only purpose is to sic Americans after other Americans, to fend more hatred, to fan more dissension and fear-mongering," she went on.

"We have got to have a bottom here," she said.

Balint shared video of her remarks to X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday and wrote: "There is no place for anti-semitic, Islamophobic, anti-LGBTQ, racist rhetoric and conspiracy theories in the House of Representatives. I move to censure Marjorie Taylor Greene."

Greene appeared to respond to Balint's resolution on X, writing: "Slow down and breathe a little Becca. Geez and they call me a conspiracy theorist."

Newsweek has reached out to Greene's office via email for further comment.

Representative Tlaib has faced criticism for refusing to apologize for blaming Israel for a deadly strike on a Gaza hospital in a post on X on October 17.

Speaking in Israel, Biden said that the "other team," not Israel, was responsible for the explosion at the hospital. U.S. intel has also said that Israel did not attack the hospital.

Greene's resolution says that Tlaib should be censured for "antisemitic activity, sympathizing with terrorist organizations, and leading an insurrection at the United States Capitol Complex."

Greene was referring to a a Jewish-led, pro-Palestinian protest that demanded lawmakers call for a ceasefire that Tlaib took part in on October 18 at the Capitol's Cannon House Office Building. No firm date has been set for a vote on Greene's resolution.

"Marjorie Taylor Greene's unhinged resolution is deeply Islamophobic and attacks peaceful Jewish anti-war advocates. I am proud to stand in solidarity with Jewish peace advocates calling for a ceasefire and an end to the violence," Tlaib wrote on X on Thursday.

"I will not be bullied, I will not be dehumanized, and I will not be silenced. I will continue to call for ceasefire, for the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid, for the release of hostages and those arbitrarily detained, and for every American to be brought home. I will continue to work for a just and lasting peace that upholds the human rights and dignity of all people, and ensures that no person, no child has to suffer or live in fear of violence," she wrote.

Greene wrote a post on X two minutes later, saying: "UNHINGED Jihad Squad member and leader of the Hamasurrection Rashida Tlaib still refuses to denounce Hamas terrorism after spewing vial antisemitic hatred. Tlaib must be held accountable! I hope every one of my colleagues join me when we go on the record to censure her."