The White House is sharply criticizing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tucker Carlson, Rep. Thomas Massie, and former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent after the group publicly discussed launching a new political movement they describe as “America First.”
On Wednesday, the Trump administration responded to the reported effort, dismissing the four figures as “whiny turncoats” and defending President Donald Trump’s leadership of the Republican Party.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle issued the statement to Wired, praising Trump’s political influence while taking aim at those involved in the reported third-party discussions.
“President Trump created the greatest political movement in the history of politics with the MAGA movement, and he remains the unequivocal leader of the Republican Party,” Ingle said.
He added that Trump remains focused on maintaining Republican control of Congress and advancing his agenda.
“The President is committed to maintaining Republican majorities in Congress and continuing to lower costs for working families,” Ingle said.
Turning to Greene, Carlson, Massie, and Kent, Ingle offered a blunt assessment of the group.
“Meanwhile, this photo represents an embarrassing collection of mostly whiny turncoats who dramatically overestimate their influence and relevance,” he said.
The White House response came four days after Greene shared a photograph on social media showing herself seated around a wooden table with Carlson, Massie, and Kent while eating chocolate chip cookies and drinking milk.
According to Greene, the gathering was more than a casual meeting.
In the post, she said the group was discussing a political movement in response to what she described as President Trump abandoning a key campaign promise.
“We said no more foreign wars and we meant it and supported Donald Trump because he made that promise. But he’s betrayed us all,” Greene wrote.
She also described the effort as being centered on an “America First” agenda.
“Our commitment is America First for all Americans, right, left, and center,” Greene wrote before concluding, “The movement has begun.”
Greene’s announcement followed comments Carlson made one month earlier, when he said he was working to “help build” a new third party.
Carlson argued that both Republicans and Democrats have become too focused on foreign affairs while, in his view, the lives of ordinary Americans have deteriorated.
His remarks came after he announced in June that he no longer intended to vote for Republican candidates. According to the article, Greene made the same announcement shortly afterward.
“How could I or any American voter support a political party that’s not loyal to the United States. That puts the interests of a foreign country above those of its own citizens,” Carlson said. “It’s not possible to vote for people like that, and I’m not going to.”
The article states Carlson was referring to Israel, a country on which he has frequently commented. It also says Carlson argued that Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign was funded largely by people with “loyalty to Israel,” which Carlson claimed was influencing the president’s decision-making.
Despite his criticism of Trump, Carlson continues to support Vice President JD Vance, according to the article. It also states Carlson has maintained a close relationship with Vance and encouraged Trump to select him as his running mate.
President Trump has rejected claims that his decisions are driven by Israel. Speaking about the Iran war in March, Trump said, “If anything, I might’ve forced Israel’s hand.”
While Greene has been promoting the reported political effort, she has also announced another venture.
On Tuesday, Greene revealed she had joined Cameo, a platform where public figures record personalized videos for customers. According to the article, Greene is offering personalized “business videos” through the service with prices starting at $5,000.
The exchange marks the latest public split between the Trump White House and several former allies who are now discussing an alternative political movement while criticizing the president over foreign policy.
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