Marjorie Taylor Greene blames Republicans for government shutdown in surprising appearance on CNN

In a rare move by a GOP politician, Republican representative Marjorie Taylor Greene went on CNN on Thursday, October 9. This is another move from Greene that seemingly distances her from Donald Trump and his politics. Republican politicians have been nearly universally loyal to Fox News since Trump’s election in 2023. Simply Greene’s respectful appearance on the show would spark comments.

We [congress] already have a low enough job approval rating; this shutdown is just going to drive everyone’s approval rating [down].

Greene joined Wolf Blitzer and Pam Brown on CNN live on Thursday, where she was tasked with answering questions about the government shutdown, the Epstein files, and reports that her relationship with Donald Trump is damaged.

The call is coming from inside the House

Rep. Greene was first asked about the government shutdown.

I’m actually putting the blame on the Speaker, and leader Thune in the Senate.

She then went on to say that the shutdown is bad for everybody.

“We [congress] already have a low enough job approval rating; this shutdown is just going to drive everyone’s approval rating [down].”

Her response clearly surprised Blitzer and Brown, as they prodded her to continue, with Brown asking almost incredulously, “So you’re putting the blame on the leadership of your party,” to which Greene answered emphatically, “Absolutely! We control the House.”

Distancing herself from Trump?

This is not the first time Rep. Greene has spoken outside of party lines. MTG also recently told CNN that Trump is being given poor advice and that he may be straying from some of the MAGA values that she campaigned on alongside Trump in 2016.

I don’t think he’s always getting the best advice [from his staff].

Rep. Greene also criticized some of her own caucus, citing that some Republicans just “Threw on the MAGA hat a year ago,” and that she has been supporting Trump “from the start.”

Just recently, a report came out where Donald Trump allegedly asked two senior Republicans, “What’s going on with Marjorie,” fueling the fire regarding their fractured relationship.

To her credit, Rep. Greene has stayed staunchly in support of President Trump. On her appearance on CNN on Thursday, she stated, “I absolutely support the president, I campaigned for him for years.”

Even then, she felt the need to clarify with, “but I’m also an action person, and I want my party to solve problems.”

Rep. Greene’s interview will certainly do little to dispel the rumours of the rift between Trump and Greene. It also seems to insinuate that Greene may be playing her own game, with her own motivations.

Does separating herself from Trump make her more attractive to the disillusioned centrists? Only time will tell. According to CNN, only 27 percent of Georgia residents view Rep. Greene favourably, and 43 percent of constituents see her unfavourably, making her one of the most polarizing members of the GOP.