Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene made a stunning political endorsement Friday, throwing her support behind Tucker Carlson for a potential 2028 presidential run while declaring the conservative commentator could defeat President Donald Trump if the sitting president attempted an unconstitutional third term.
The endorsement marks another dramatic escalation in Greene’s ongoing feud with Trump, who called the Georgia Republican a “traitor” after she broke with him on multiple issues. Greene, who left Congress in January following her high-profile split with the president, has emerged as an unexpected critic of the administration she once fiercely defended.
Greene’s defense of Carlson came after Trump criticized the 56-year-old conservative media figure during a phone call with ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl. The president took aim at Carlson following the former Fox News anchor’s harsh criticism of U.S. military operations in Iran, which Carlson called “absolutely disgusting and evil.”
In a blistering post on X, Greene accused Trump of abandoning the movement he built. “Trump doesn’t even know what MAGA is anymore and turned it into MIGA,” she wrote. “Trump is not America First, he’s donor first.”
Trump had told Karl that Carlson “has lost his way” and dismissed the commentator’s claim to represent the MAGA movement. “MAGA is America first, and Tucker is none of those things. And Tucker is really not smart enough to understand that,” the president said.
The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, a military operation dubbed “Operation Epic Fury” that has drawn fierce criticism from several prominent conservatives. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least eight U.S. service members, fueling backlash from former Trump allies including Carlson and Megyn Kelly.
Carlson responded to Trump’s criticism with restraint, telling Status: “There are times I get annoyed with Trump, right now definitely included. But I’ll always love him no matter what he says about me.”
During a 2024 podcast appearance with Patrick Bet-David, Carlson acknowledged he might consider running in 2028, though he expressed doubts about his suitability for the role. “I don’t think I’d be very good at it,” he said, adding that he would “do whatever I could to help.”
Greene’s transformation from Trump loyalist to outspoken critic has been swift and dramatic. She announced her resignation from Congress in November 2025, effective January 5, 2026. The move came after Trump withdrew his endorsement and called her a “ranting lunatic” amid escalating tensions over the Epstein files and the administration’s foreign policy.
In her resignation statement, Greene pushed back forcefully. “Standing up for American women who were raped at 14, trafficked and used by rich powerful men, should not result in me being called a traitor and threatened by the President of the United States, whom I fought for,” she wrote.
Trump celebrated Greene’s departure from Congress, telling ABC News: “I think it’s great news for the country.” He dismissed any suggestion that she had informed him beforehand, claiming her “plummeting poll numbers” made her political survival impossible without his backing.
Since leaving office, the former Georgia congresswoman has continued her public criticism of the Republican Party, appearing on media outlets including CNN, “The View,” and “Real Time with Bill Maher.” She has challenged the president on economic pressures facing American families and accused him of prioritizing donor interests over America First principles.
Greene’s push for Trump to release files related to the Jeffrey Epstein case proved to be the breaking point. She signed a discharge petition with three other Republicans to force a vote on the matter—directly defying the president, who had opposed the release. Trump withdrew his endorsement days before the House vote, calling her “Wacky Marjorie” and vowing to support any conservative primary challenger.
Vice President JD Vance is widely viewed as Trump’s preferred successor for the 2028 GOP presidential nomination. The Constitution limits presidents to two terms, though Trump has previously hinted at the possibility of serving beyond that limit.
Greene’s endorsement of Carlson represents the latest fracture in what was once an unbreakable alliance between the former congresswoman and Trump. Her willingness to publicly support a potential challenger to the Republican establishment signals her continued influence within conservative circles—even as she operates outside the traditional party structure.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Greene’s endorsement of Carlson for 2028.