MTG to MAGA: «You’ve been brainwashed»

Marjorie Taylor Greene has deepened her break with Donald Trump, delivering a stark warning to the MAGA base she once championed, urging supporters to «Wake up» and asserting that they have been “brainwashed” — in part by the president himself, whom she accuses of mocking them with “Q nods.” Once one of Trump’s most devoted allies in Congress, Greene’s rhetoric toward the president has shifted dramatically, moving from loyalist ardour to outright criticism as internal tensions within the Republican movement intensify.

Her latest comments, made in response to a social media thread about Trump’s relationship with his base, underscore a growing rift that many political observers see as emblematic of broader fractures within MAGA ahead of November’s midterms.

The exchange that sparked Greene’s blunt admonition came on X, where a user identifying as ThePatrioticBlonde — Breck Worsham, a former Trump campaign aide who worked on multiple Trump campaign efforts — had posted criticism of Donald Trump’s perceived disconnect with his supporters. In replying to her post, Greene wrote:

«Correct. And then they intentionally post Q nods and laugh about how MAGA eats it up. Wake up. You’ve been brainwashed.»

Worsham’s original message argued that Trump hears his base but does not care, particularly in relation to concerns about the Epstein files and the anger among longtime supporters. Greene’s choice to publicly attach herself to that critique underscores a significant ideological shift from her earlier role as one of Trump’s most loyal congressional allies to a vocal critic of what she sees as messaging strategies that have misled and betrayed core MAGA supporters.

At the heart of Greene’s feud with Trump is the controversy over the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the imprisoned financier whose case has continued to roil American politics. Greene was an outspoken advocate for the so-called Epstein Files Transparency Act, a bipartisan push aimed at forcing the Department of Justice to disclose millions of pages of internal documents.

She and other lawmakers, including Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna, signed a discharge petition to bring the measure to a vote after House leadership refused to act. Greene’s criticism of Trump’s alleged resistance to the release — and his labeling of the whole controversy as a “Democrat hoax” — was one of the most public points of contention between them.

The fallout has been intensely personal and political. Greene resigned from Congress in early 2026 partly in response to escalating tensions with the Republican establishment, and Trump publicly withdrew his support for her future campaigns, branding her a “traitor” to the party.

Trump allies attacked her on social media and in speeches, and she claimed that aggressive rhetoric from Trump and his supporters put her safety at risk, citing threats she and her family allegedly received. Trump has defended his record and the administration’s handling of the Epstein files, insisting that the recently released materials exonerate him and that he has “nothing to hide.” Despite those claims, critics argue that the administration’s initial attempts to block full disclosure exacerbated distrust among segments of the conservative base.

Greene’s criticisms extend beyond the Epstein issue to broader claims about Trump’s relationship with his base. She has suggested that Trump’s focus on certain strategic interests and messaging choices has alienated die-hard supporters, accusing him of mocking them and pandering to groups outside the core MAGA constituency.

Her “Q nods” remark alludes to symbolic acknowledgements of QAnon-related sentiment among some supporters, even as Trump distances himself from the fringe movement. Responding to the controversy surrounding the Epstein files, Trump has forcefully denied any wrongdoing and insisted he has been cleared, telling reporters: «I have nothing to hide. I’ve been exonerated. I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. They went in hoping that they’d find it and found just the opposite. I’ve been totally exonerated.»

The schism between Greene and Trump highlights the challenges facing the Republican Party ahead of the midterm elections, where unity among different conservative factions is considered crucial for electoral success. Analysts note that Greene’s warnings about alienating voters — particularly women and independents, who polls indicate have shown tentative disapproval of the party’s direction — could resonate beyond her own supporters.

Trump’s insistence that the Epstein files clear his name contrasts sharply with Greene’s narrative of secrecy and betrayal, illustrating how personal and ideological divides can reshape political alliances. As the MAGA movement confronts these internal disputes, the long-term implications for Republican cohesion remain uncertain.