Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene came under fire after she voted against a House resolution mourning the more than 51,000 people who died in a series of deadly earthquakes in Turkey and Syria this month.
Greene was joined by fellow Republican Thomas Massie of Kentucky as the only two members of the House of Representatives to vote against the resolution, which praised “the work of humanitarian aid and rescue workers on the ground” and condemned “efforts by the Assad regime of Syria to exploit the disaster to evade international pressure and accountability."
The resolution, which passed 412-2, was proposed by South Carolina Republican Representative Joe Wilson.
\u201cTonight the House passed my resolution to stand with the people of T\u00fcrkiye and Syria and against the brutal Assad regime following the devastating earthquakes. https://t.co/PW7BlFqV5p\u201d— Joe Wilson (@Joe Wilson) 1677542610
Greene's opposition is especially striking because after the initial 7.8 earthquake struck Turkey and Syria in early February, she tweeted she was "praying" for Turkey "and other countries suffering through deadly earthquakes."
You can see Greene's tweet below.
\u201cPraying for Turkey and other countries suffering through deadly earthquakes.\n\nThousands are feared dead.\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1675691060
Both she and Massie have been highly criticized for their failure to back Turkey and Syria, around whom all of Congress and much of the international community has coalesced.
\u201cShameful. MTG & Tom Massie vote NO on resolution mourning the 50,000+ earthquake deaths in Turkey and Syria. So much for "pro life."\n\nA reminder that orgs like Humanity First\u2014who I 100% support & endorse\u2014is providing direct aid for earthquake victims: https://t.co/zBzx9oJHsu\u201d— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@Qasim Rashid, Esq.) 1677548426
\u201cI wonder if GOP Darling Dr. OZ appreciates MTG's indifference and Snub to the 50,000+ Earthquake Victims in his homeland Turkey? Will this affect Turkeys Erdogan from attending CPAC as one of their many Guest Authoritarian Leader Speakers? \ud83e\udd14 \ud83e\udd28https://t.co/MHB8oaX1Ae\u201d— Kamatsu (@Kamatsu) 1677590998
\u201cMarjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie Vote Against Mourning 50,000 Earthquake Victims in Turkey and Syria https://t.co/BtDSPSyRvr \n\nUh, oh, here she goes again! What do MTG and the Limbo dance have in common? They both try to go as low as they can! \ud83d\udc0d\ud83d\udc0d\ud83d\udc0d\u201d— Damaan, AKA "Philly's Finest"! (@Damaan, AKA "Philly's Finest"!) 1677598815
\u201cMTG needs to be investigated before she is impeached. 50,000 died in the earth quakes! MTG is too stupid to represent the Georgia 14th! \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\ude0e\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 @RepMTG @mtgreenee @HouseGOP @SenateGOP \n\n https://t.co/ySm3om2IYq\u201d— Mike Rasbury \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\ude0e\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Mike Rasbury \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\ude0e\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1677612685
\u201cHow can you vote against mourning the loss of lives in an earthquake? What God is MTG hiding behind with this craziness? Because he's seems to be more like \ud83d\udc79\u201d— Graysen Morgen (@Graysen Morgen) 1677617395
\u201c\u2066@RepMTG\u2069 showing her true foul colors. This woman harbors so much hate for everyone & everything. How the hell did she get re-elected? https://t.co/U6879TKYGb\u201d— CarlsbadBoricua she/her (@CarlsbadBoricua she/her) 1677606029
\u201c\u2066@RepMTG\u2069 is truly the worst human being. \n\nRead This: "MTG Couldn\u2019t Care Less About Those Who Died in Earthquake" https://t.co/YF4wt0zf9B\u201d— Johnny Boy (@Johnny Boy) 1677566429
Neither Greene nor Massie have responded to requests for comment.
The resolution states that the House "mourns the horrific loss of life in Türkiye and Syria caused by the earthquakes in Türkiye" as well as "expresses its deep condolences to the families of the many earthquake victims."
It praises "the heroic work of humanitarian aid and rescue workers on the ground to save lives and provide care for victims" and calls on Democratic President Joe Biden and his administration "to continue to use all diplomatic tools, including through the United Nations Security Council, to open all Türkiye-Syria border crossings for United Nations assistance."
The text goes on to criticize Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and condemns "efforts by the Assad regime to cynically exploit the disaster to evade international pressure and accountability," which include the Assad regime's work to prevent the United Nations "from providing assistance through multiple border crossings between Türkiye and Syria."
