GOP trying to quash narrative that more House members will leave party

When Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) resigned, many others and I were stunned. I knew she and Trump were on the outs, but I figured she would stay in the fight. Instead, she chose to leave office after the new year.

That started rumors that more members of Congress who were not necessarily friendly with Trump would also leave office, but the GOP is trying to quash that before it gets legs.

Leaving office

Greene and Trump used to be best buds, but when she got snubbed for a cabinet position, all bets were off.

After venom was exchanged between the two, Trump eventually pulled his endorsement of her, which led to Greene deciding that she would leave office on January 5, which just happens to be just past the date when she starts to qualify for congressioanl pension benefits.

Greene blasted Trump in her announcement, stating, “Loyalty should be a two-way street and we should be able to vote our conscience and represent our district’s interest, because our job title is literally ‘representative.’”

She later claimed that she was leaving because she “just never fit in.”

More coming

A report in the Daily Beast claimed this was just the tip of the iceberg.

The general feeling among Republicans who dare to push back on anything with Trump is that Trump will turn on them and try to primary them.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is a great example, as he initially supported Trump, then, when he pushed back on a few issues he did not agree with, Trump went after him with both barrels.

Even though Greene and Massie are not popular within the caucus, generally speaking, if they are on the ticket, they are going to win. Now some Republicans are furious that Greene’s exit will be the start of a wave, which means more open seats to defend with unproven candidates in a year when the GOP is expected to get crushed during midterms.

No big deal

It is not just the situation with Greene, either, as the little birds were whispering after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) kept the House closed during the shutdown. But now Johnson and his allies in the House are trying to calm the waters.

For instance, Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-FL) stated that he has heard the same rumors, but the members he has talked to are “committed to being here.” He added, "This is what the American public wanted. I mean, they affirmatively put Republicans in power. And the only frustration we've been through, at least my biggest frustration, is when the Democrats exercise their power to shut the government down for 43 days."

Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT), a member of Johnson’s leadership team, added, "Speaker Johnson and the House Republican leadership team have made a diligent effort to listen to all members of the conference for input, policy ideas and concerns. As usual, the media is building a negative narrative, but our record of delivering for the American people with our majority this year speaks to our teamwork and unity."

We all know how this works. Even if the reports are true, and I am not saying they are, the GOP is going to cover itself and pretend everything is fine in public. I just hope they are taking the warning signs seriously behind closed doors and addressing the clear problems they are facing heading into the 2026 cycle. Losing the House is one thing, but they cannot lose the House and Senate, and they surely cannot replicate the losses we suffered in the 2018 midterm election during Trump’s first term.