The far-right QAnon conspiracy theory maintains that an elite group of satanic pedophiles known as the "Deep State" are secretly controlling the government and that President Donald Trump was sent to expose them.
It was a QAnon believer who showed up to Comet Ping Pong with an AR-15, believing that 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton was operating a child sex trafficking ring out of the pizzeria. It was a QAnon believer who blocked traffic with an armored vehicle on the Hoover Dam.
And, in all likelihood, it's a QAnon believer who will be headed to Congress representing Georgia's 14th District.
Marjorie Taylor Greene won her Republican runoff election on Tuesday night with 57 percent of the vote. She's expected to handily defeat Democrat Kevin Van Ausdal in the solid red district.
Trump gleefully endorsed her in a Wednesday tweet, referring to her as a "future Republican star."
Congratulations to future Republican Star Marjorie Taylor Greene on a big Congressional primary win in Georgia against a very tough and smart opponent. Marjorie is strong on everything and never gives up - a real WINNER!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2020
Newly invigorated by Trump's tweet, Greene is pledging to kick "that bitch" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) out of Congress.
Nancy Pelosi impeached @realDonaldTrump
She put our country through hell with the Russian collusion conspiracy
She's a hypocrite
She's anti American
& we're going to kick that bitch out of Congress
RT & donate below to help make this happenhttps://t.co/gaElMeeG1T pic.twitter.com/upmk3G0sfS
— Marjorie Taylor Greene For Congress🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) August 12, 2020
But at least one congressional Republican isn't okay with the QAnon conspiracy theory gaining legitimacy on the floor of Congress.
Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-16) has voted in line with Trump an average of 93 percent of the time, but only two hours after Trump threw his approval behind Greene, Kinzinger made it clear that her conspiracy theories have "no place in Congress."
Qanon is a fabrication. This “insider" has predicted so much incorrectly (but people don't remember PAST predictions) so now has switched to vague generalities. Could be Russian propaganda or a basement dweller. Regardless, no place in Congress for these conspiracies.
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) August 12, 2020
In the tweet, Kinzinger refers to an "insider," who calls themselves Q, and anonymously alerts believers of the conspiracy theory to Trump's supposed efforts to take down the "Deep State," often pointing to manufactured symbols in campaign ads, Trump tweets, and other media.
Despite Kinzinger's sudden protests, QAnon has only gained traction with Trump at the helm. The President has frequently retweeted messages from QAnon believers and has now endorsed one for Congress.
The Congressman's support for Trump called the integrity of his tweet into question.
Hey, and when some of these Q people end up being elected to Congress alongside you, what are you going to do about it? This is a genuine question. Will you actually stand up to them, or will you pretend like they don't pose an actual problem?
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) August 12, 2020
Applaud the message, but it's the definition of "too little, too late". Instead of denouncing them, the GOP has turned a blind eye to these Qult members to the effect of a handful of Republican nominees for Congress have now directly endorsed this insanity.
— TrumpsTaxes (@TrumpsTaxes) August 12, 2020
you'll endorse her
— kilgore trout, new tone haver (@KT_So_It_Goes) August 12, 2020
Sad that it took this long and that this is the only R congressman I've seen make this public statement. I'm afraid the failure to address this earlier and more loudly will cost us all.
— Chris B (@ChrisBEsq) August 12, 2020
You're right on that, but are now going to have to find yourself a new political party. The one you've been in has thrown away its mind and its soul and at this point just has to be burned to the ground.
— PaultheFossil🌐 (@paulrbotts) August 12, 2020
I appreciate this post. Took you long enough.
— JeezOPete (@doodledeedub) August 12, 2020
In addition to her belief in conspiracy theories, Greene has frequently made racist, anti-semitic, and Islamophobic remarks online.
Watch: We uncovered hours of videos of Marjorie Taylor Greene, a leading GOP congressional candidate in Georgia, expressing racist, Islamophobic and anti-Semitic views. https://t.co/y6oZzomnlR pic.twitter.com/DKv8sCPjrK
— POLITICO (@politico) June 18, 2020
Her likely ascension to Congress painted an insidious picture for the direction of the Republican party.
Here's a thing I don't get. Say you're a QAnon believer who gets elected to Congress. Do you just...show up to the office every day with people you think are Satan-worshipping pedophiles?
— Kevin Roose (@kevinroose) August 12, 2020
On the same day Democrats announced the first woman of color on a major party ticket, Georgia Republicans nominated a Qanon conspiracy theorist to Congress.
Let that shit sink in 😠
— Louie G 🇩🇪🇲🇽🇺🇲 (@LouGarza86) August 12, 2020
The state of Georgia will most likely send a QAnon adherent to Congress.
For those keeping track, it will mean a fascistic, off-the-rails internet cult born in the cesspool of 4chan will have a say in the day-to-day affairs of the United States of America.
— Jared Yates Sexton (@JYSexton) August 12, 2020
QAnon is coming to Congress, and that should worry all of us https://t.co/A9DI8RqgfV
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) August 12, 2020
Before Greene's victory and Trump's endorsement, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (D-CA) called her views "apalling." House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) called them "disgusting."
It's unclear if their position will change following Trump's endorsement.
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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images