Trump, MTG clash ahead of Epstein files vote

On Friday, Trump called Greene "wacky" in a social media post and said she should be ousted from power in next year's elections. On Saturday, he called her a "traitor."

Greene has questioned in recent days whether Trump still prioritizes "America First" and criticized his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

The controversy comes as the House is considering making these files public, and Speaker Mike Johnson has said he will hold a vote on the bill this week.

The bill, known as the Epstein Files Transparency Act, aims to force the Justice Department to release all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to Jeffrey Epstein.

The US outlet Politico reported that a vote on it could take place as early as Tuesday.

"All I see "Wacky" Marjorie do is COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN!" Trump posted on Friday night, claiming that she turned on him after he suggested that she shouldn't run for governor or senator in her home state of Georgia.

"She has told many people that she is upset that I don't return her phone calls anymore," Trump said, adding: "I can't take a ranting Lunatic's call every day."

She pledged to support any Republican opponent in next year's midterm elections, when she seeks reelection, before ramping up her attacks in a social media post from her Florida home on Saturday.

"Marjorie 'Traitor' Green [sic] is a disgrace to our GREAT REPUBLICAN PARTY!" he wrote.

This comment comes after days of criticism from Greene, who has said Trump isn't doing enough to reduce spending for voters. She also criticized his recent decisions on foreign conflicts and tariff policies.

But she has been most critical of his handling of the Epstein files.

This shift is notable for a lawmaker who stood by Trump during numerous scandals, particularly during the 2021 Capitol riot, when Trump supporters stormed the US legislature in an attempt to overturn Trump's election defeat.

The US president also strongly defended Greene when she was accused of promoting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.

Greene is one of four House Republicans who joined Democrats in signing a discharge petition last week demanding the release of the Epstein files.

On Friday, Greene posted on X that Trump was trying to prevent other Republicans from voting in favor of the Epstein petition.

"He's coming after me hard to make an example to scare all the other Republicans before next weeks vote to release the Epstein files," she posted, adding: "It's astonishing really how hard he's fighting to stop the Epstein files from coming out that he actually goes to this level."

She returned to X on Saturday to say Trump had made her a target for threats "fueled and egged on by the most powerful man in the world".

"As a Republican, who overwhelmingly votes for President Trump's bills and agenda, his aggression against me... is completely shocking to everyone," she wrote.

"I don't worship or serve Donald Trump," she wrote in one post. "I worship God, Jesus is my savior, and I serve my district GA14 and the American people."

Former Republican pollster and strategist Robert Moran said it was clear the US president did not want Epstein's files made public and was "trying to pressure" Greene.

Mr. Moran doubted the controversy would affect Trump's popularity because voters were so divided, but he said it was inevitable the files would eventually be revealed.

"Many of his voters are sceptical of power and so they want power to be held to account, and they support the release of these files," he added.

Trump has long faced criticism from both parties over his handling of US Justice Department files related to the late financier and convicted child sex abuser Epstein.

Trump was friends with Epstein for years, but the US president has said they had a falling out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein's first arrest. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.