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Marjorie Taylor Greene calls far-right activist Laura Loomer’s rhetoric a ‘big problem’ that ‘doesn’t represent MAGA’
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Marjorie Taylor Greene calls far-right activist Laura Loomer’s rhetoric a ‘big problem’ that ‘doesn’t represent MAGA’


Washington
CNN

GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized far-right activist Laura Loomer on Thursday, saying her “rhetoric and hateful tone” is concerning and problematic and “does not represent MAGA as a whole.”

The comments from Greene, a Georgia Republican who has her own notable history of incendiary and inflammatory remarks, come after the congresswoman called on Loomer to remove an X-post in which Loomer said that if Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, who is half Indian, wins, “the White House will smell like curry and speeches in the White House will be routed through a call center.”

Greene called the post “extremely racist” and wrote in response to X, “This does not represent President Trump.”

Asked by CNN’s Manu Raju whether she would encourage Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump not to maintain close contact with Loomer, Greene said: “This is such an important election. I don’t think she has the experience or the right mindset to advise on a very important presidential election.”

It’s the latest sign of infighting on the far right as the presidential election approaches, underscoring the tension and divisions among Trump supporters over how the Republican Party and its presidential candidate should position themselves to voters.

Trump appears bewildered and confused by the unfamiliar and rapidly changing political landscape upended by Harris’s nomination as the Democratic presidential nominee. He has unleashed a flurry of vicious letters, racial slurs and conspiracy theories. Even close allies and donors have acknowledged in recent days that these messages are unproductive.

Loomer has traveled with Trump on several occasions and often appears at events where he speaks. Sometimes her bombastic social media posts provide a preview of Trump’s next line of attack.

Loomer told CNN about the post: “It’s interesting how the media is once again trying to falsely accuse me of being a racist. This is a woman who is on video cooking Indian food with Indian celebrities talking about how she likes to cook curry.”

Asked by Raju about Loomer, Greene said Thursday: “I’m concerned about her rhetoric and her hateful tone. To me, a lot of the comments that she’s making and how she’s attacking Republicans like me, a lot of other Republicans who are strong supporters of President Trump, that’s a big problem. And that doesn’t represent MAGA as a whole.”

“I just thought it was time to address it. I think it’s wrong. We’re not a party of identity politics,” Greene said, adding that Republicans should focus on policy, “not on attacking people because of their race.”

When asked if she had contacted Trump about Loomer, Greene said, “I have spoken to President Trump, but I won’t go into the details of our personal conversation.”

Greene herself faced criticism during her time in Congress for racist and inflammatory remarks.

In May, Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett criticized Greene, calling her “racist,” after a tense House Oversight decision that quickly descended into personal attacks.

Greene sparked outrage when she commented on Crockett’s appearance. “I think your fake eyelashes are ruining what you’re reading,” Greene said.

Crockett told reporters about the incident: “That’s all it is, it’s racism. And she decided she was going to be that person loud and clear yesterday.”

When CNN’s Abby Phillip asked Crockett why she thought Greene’s comments were racist, she said the Georgia Republican was echoing criticisms about her appearance that she often hears online from MAGA supporters. She said that while other women in Congress wear eyelashes, she felt like she was being perceived as a black woman.

When CNN asked for comment at the time, Greene’s office said, “The only member who brought up a reference to color was Congressman Crockett.”

House Democrats — along with several Republicans — voted to remove the congresswoman from her committee assignments in 2021, when they had the majority in the chamber, after Greene’s past incendiary and violent comments were revealed, sparking widespread backlash from Democrats and divided Republicans in Congress.

Greene defended herself in a speech on the House floor ahead of the vote, attempting to distance herself from the dangerous and debunked QAnon conspiracy theory she has previously embraced.

CNN’s Alayna Treene, Kristen Holmes, Steve Contorno and Kit Maher contributed to this report.