In a striking intraparty clash, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) reportedly sharply criticized Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Thursday, condemning what she called his “ridiculous” and “1,000% false” claim that God would “pull the plug on us” if the United States withdrew its support for Israel.
The exchange underscores an increasingly vocal split among Republicans over foreign aid, national priorities, and the party’s future direction.
Speaking to South Carolina Republicans a day earlier, Graham forcefully defended Israel, dismissing accusations of genocide. “If Israel wanted to commit genocide, they could,” Graham declared. “They have the capability to do that. They choose not to.” He insisted the alliance was non-negotiable, warning, “If America pulls the plug on Israel, God will pull the plug on us.”
Graham also lashed out at GOP critics of U.S. aid to the Jewish state. “To people in my party: I’m tired of this crap! Israel is our friend. They’re the most reliable we have in the Mid-East. They’re a democracy surrounded by people who would cut their throats if they could. This is not a hard choice if you’re an American. It’s not a hard choice if you’re Christian.”
Greene, an outspoken advocate of an “America First” agenda, responded with a blistering statement on social media, arguing that Graham’s remarks revealed precisely why the U.S. should reconsider its decades-long military and financial commitments abroad.
“That is quite a statement and is an acknowledgment that nuclear armed Israel is more than capable of defending themselves, by themselves,” Greene wrote. “So why is America funding them and fighting for them??!!! We should not be!!”
The congresswoman, a mother of three, contrasted her own stake in the nation’s future with what she described as Graham’s entrenched Washington career. “We are now a nation in $37 TRILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT because of the NON-STOP votes and funding for foreign countries and foreign wars and bloated budgets and pork and waste for over 30 years, which is how long Lindsey Graham has been serving in Washington DC,” she said.
Greene linked the fiscal strain to broader economic pressures, arguing that “America LAST decisions” have “destroyed the middle class and turned my children’s generation into the WORKING POOR.”
She also rejected Graham’s religious framing of the U.S.-Israel relationship. “God will not pull the plug on us, if we stop funding the secular government of Israel,” Greene said, calling such rhetoric “fear mongering” aimed at “good hearted American Christians.”
Citing scripture, Greene argued that U.S. support for actions in Gaza contradicts Christian teachings. “Funding and blindly supporting an ally who is starving children is not going to bring God’s favor on America… it will instead bring God’s wrath.”
Her conclusion was unequivocal: “If we are going to pull the plug on anything, we should pull the damn plug on FUNDING FOREIGN WARS AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES!”
The dispute follows Greene’s recent accusations that Israel is carrying out genocide in Gaza—remarks that have already drawn criticism from other more pro-Israeli Republicans, including Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL).
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