Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia is once again making waves in the House of Representatives, and—surprise!—it's not due to policy or productivity.
Greene's incessantly belligerent actions—dwarfed only by her eagerness to believe and spread conspiracy theories—have become a defining aspect of her political persona.
She gleefully brandished assault weapons in campaign ads next to pictures of Democratic members of Congress. Her peers voted to strip her of her committee assignments after revelations that she expressed support for their execution on social media before she ran for office.
Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-MO) had to change offices because Greene repeatedly berated her and targeted her on social media, making her feel unsafe. Greene similarly harassed teenage school shooting survivor and gun reform activist David Hogg before her election.
With no committees and few avenues toward political relevance, Greene has devoted her time in recent weeks to repeatedly demanding a debate from progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), a favorite target of the far-right.
Ocasio-Cortez hasn't publicly dignified Greene's dozens of social media posts calling for the debate with a response—a move that apparently enraged the conspiratorial Congresswoman, because—according to the Washington Post—Greene aggressively harassed Ocasio-Cortez at the Capitol on Wednesday night.
The Post's Marianna Sotomayor writes that as Ocasio-Cortez left the House Chamber:
"[Greene] shouted 'Hey Alexandria' twice in an effort to get her attention. When Ocasio-Cortez did not stop walking, Greene picked up her pace and began shouting at her and asking why she supports antifa, a loosely knit group of far-left activists, and Black Lives Matter, falsely labeling them 'terrorist' groups. Greene also shouted that Ocasio-Cortez was failing to defend her 'radical socialist' beliefs by declining to publicly debate the freshman from Georgia."
Greene further shouted at Ocasio-Cortez, berating her as a terrorist sympathizer.
Ocasio-Cortez's office told the Post that the Sergeant at Arms was contacted:
"Representative Greene tried to begin an argument with Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez and when Rep. Ocasio-Cortez tried to walk away, Congresswoman Greene began screaming and called Rep. Ocasio-Cortez a terrorist sympathizer. We hope leadership and the Sergeant at Arms will take real steps to make Congress a safe, civil place for all Members and staff — especially as many offices are discussing reopening. One Member has already been forced to relocate her office due to Congresswoman Greene's attacks."
Greene, like the man she erroneously believes is still President, has taken to hurling personal attacks regarding the incident in an unhinged Twitter screed.
Just talked to @AOC again.\n\nYou chickened out bc you are too scared to debate me about your Socialist Green New Deal.\n\nYou are also a hate-America terrorist sympathizer.\n#JihadSquad \n\nMembers of Congress do NOT support terrorism & shouldn\u2019t be afraid to debate their legislation.— Marjorie Taylor Greene \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Marjorie Taylor Greene \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1620853652
.@AOC \u201cMs. Defund The Police\u201d wants to call the police for security bc she\u2019s afraid of debating with me about her socialist GND.\n\nAOC is a fraud & a hypocrite.\n\nThat\u2019s fine Sandy.\n\nSince you lack the courage & intelligence to debate me, I\u2019ll debate the person who really wrote it.— Marjorie Taylor Greene \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Marjorie Taylor Greene \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1620913341
And any US Member of Congress supporting terrorists Hamas should be expelled.
Any member supporting and fundraising for criminals in Antifa/BLM riots in American cities should be expelled.
That's the #JihadSquad and the VP.
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) May 13, 2021
Since you are short on understanding little Adam, I asked @AOC to debate me.\n\nIn the chamber, to debate her destructive socialist policies.\n\nBut Sandy doesn\u2019t know how to work with Republicans.\n\nNeither do you.https://twitter.com/adamkinzinger/status/1392827026248196100\u00a0\u2026— Marjorie Taylor Greene \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Marjorie Taylor Greene \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1620913865
A growing number of people believe Greene is completely unfit for office—and they're making that stance known.
It's clear as day: @RepMTG is a danger to her colleagues and the country.\n\nTell your House member to vote to #ExpelGreene from Congress here: https://bit.ly/ExpelGreene\u00a0https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/greene-ocasio-cortez/2021/05/12/fd61d664-b37e-11eb-a3b5-f994536fe84a_story.html\u00a0\u2026— Democratic Coalition (@Democratic Coalition) 1620912258
Good Christians of Georgia, come get this pointless hot mess of dumb hate & aggression before she breaks something valuable. Like democracy. \n\nRep. Greene aggressively confronts Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, causing New York congresswoman to raise security concernshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/greene-ocasio-cortez/2021/05/12/fd61d664-b37e-11eb-a3b5-f994536fe84a_story.html\u00a0\u2026— Portia Kamons (@Portia Kamons) 1620889411
Deplorable. This is what happens when trash gets elected to Congress.https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/greene-ocasio-cortez/2021/05/12/fd61d664-b37e-11eb-a3b5-f994536fe84a_story.html\u00a0\u2026— Vaxxed Jack (@Vaxxed Jack) 1620889397
Obvi I have fundamental differences with AOC, but the place where you work should be free of harassment. MTG needs to be dealt with by Speaker Pelosi the Sergent At Arms or whatever. You shouldn\u2019t have to be scared of confrontation at your work place.https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/greene-ocasio-cortez/2021/05/12/fd61d664-b37e-11eb-a3b5-f994536fe84a_story.html\u00a0\u2026— \ud83e\ude7asassenach (@\ud83e\ude7asassenach) 1620902544
Decent Americans like Rep. Ocasio-Cortez shouldn't have their lives disrupted with "security concerns" because WE AS A SOCIETY fail to protect them from MAGA filth!\n\nSeditionist criminals like MTG are why we have prisons - let's use them!\n\n#Greenehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/greene-ocasio-cortez/2021/05/12/fd61d664-b37e-11eb-a3b5-f994536fe84a_story.html\u00a0\u2026— Mark Judson For Congress - Scorched Earth Dem 2022 (@Mark Judson For Congress - Scorched Earth Dem 2022) 1620902393
Crazies in Congress, and they have gunshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/greene-ocasio-cortez/2021/05/12/fd61d664-b37e-11eb-a3b5-f994536fe84a_story.html\u00a0\u2026— Oliver Willis (@Oliver Willis) 1620906026
Meanwhile, others are praising Ocasio-Cortez's tactic in dealing with Greene: ignore her publicly, lest she become even more relevant.
.@AOC gives an admirable lesson in restraint.https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/greene-ocasio-cortez/2021/05/12/fd61d664-b37e-11eb-a3b5-f994536fe84a_story.html\u00a0\u2026— David Axelrod (@David Axelrod) 1620914274
This is all about fundraising. AOC is despised by these "Q" fanatics and Greene knows that any confrontation with her will get press and checks. She is clout chasing.https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/greene-ocasio-cortez/2021/05/12/fd61d664-b37e-11eb-a3b5-f994536fe84a_story.html?tid=ss_tw\u00a0\u2026— Danny Braggadocious (@Danny Braggadocious) 1620889873
Margorie Taylor Greene must feel so inadequate when ever she even thinks about Rep. Ocasio-Cortez. Such a feeling of inferiority!\n\nAOC ignoring her is the biggest damage to Margorie...It will implode her little angry mind.pic.twitter.com/LO5C1pt5Q0— Melani Taylor\ud83c\udf0a\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udcaa\ud83e\udd42 (@Melani Taylor\ud83c\udf0a\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udcaa\ud83e\udd42) 1620893005
AOC ignored Marjorie Taylor Greene\u2019s incessant Twitter pleas for a public \u2018head to head\u2019\n\nMargorie is so desperate for Rep. Ocasio-Cortez to give her some air.\n\nBeing ignored is the biggest damage to someone like her.\n\n #PartyofTheInsanepic.twitter.com/h3CouHfPRj— Hana Perez\ud83c\udf0a (@Hana Perez\ud83c\udf0a) 1620892307
It's yet to be seen whether Greene will face further discipline for her behavior.