The newly minted Chair of the House's DOGE Subcommittee and one of Donald Trump's closest allies in Congress, Marjorie Taylor Greene, has had enough of what she coined the "liberal media." Greene got into an argument with Punchbowl News reporter Melanie Zanona over questions about Capitol tours for January 6 defendants he described as "absurd.".
The confrontation began when Zanona asked Greene about Representative Lauren Boebert’s suggestion to give guided Capitol tours to individuals pardoned for their roles in the January 6 riot. Greene responded sharply, stating, “I’m not doing this. This insane place up here and all of y’all’s obsession with January 6 is absurd.”
Greene Slams Media’s Focus on January 6
Greene took the opportunity to criticize the media for what she sees as an excessive focus on the events of January 6, 2021, rather than on issues that matter to everyday Americans. “Everybody outside of here is sick and f***ing tired of it. I’m serious. Everybody up here has their panties in a wad,” Greene said, adding that many of the January 6 defendants “walked through open doors. That’s it.”
She went further to accuse President Joe Biden of having freed "murderers and rapists" during his time in office, questioning why the media had not given such actions the same level of attention.
"Real Americans" vs. Media Priorities
Pressing on for Zanona to get a more specific stance from Greene, the Congresswoman doubled down: "They're pardoned, and thank God. I hope they go live their lives and reassemble something back together. They have suffered enough," Greene said in sympathy for those pardoned.
Greene lambasted the media for failing to report on what she described as the issues "real Americans" cared about, such as the crisis at the southern border, the economy, energy independence, and public disgust with foreign wars. "Why don't you do a story on what people care about? People hate the hypocrisy up here, and they hate the media right now," she fumed.
Greene's Message to the Media
Following the interaction, Greene followed up by releasing video from her exchange to X, the platform previously known as Twitter. In labeling the clip she wrote an insulting view on the press corps within Washington: "After 4 years I am still fed up w/ Washington DC press, Your assumptions are ignorant and You are absolutely disconnected and clueless about what's important in life and to Americans," Greene wrote, "You've destroyed your credibility.
Greene further emphasized that through social media platforms such as X, she is in a position to transcend mainstream media news stories. "With social media like X, you can't lie about me anymore," she said.
A Polarizing Figure's Ascendant Influence
One of the most vocal supporters of Donald Trump in Congress, Greene has remained influential in Republican ranks, especially in Trump's second term. Her comments represent a growing gap between politicians like her and the mainstream media, pointing to a wider cultural and political chasm in the country.
To critics, Greene's comments downplayed the severity of what transpired on January 6. Her supporters, though, see her as fearless in taking on the issues that they care most about. Whether for good or ill, Greene's bombastic rhetoric and unapologetic nature keep her positioned as polarizing, at the very least, within American politics.