During a heated moment at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Super Tuesday, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene responded sharply to a BBC journalist’s inquiry. The Georgia Republican’s interaction with BBC’s Emily Maitlis turned confrontational when Maitlis broached the subject of conspiracy theories, specifically asking about the infamous “Jewish space lasers.”
Greene had been discussing her support for Trump and the importance of truth, the Constitution, and America-first policies when Maitlis questioned her affection for conspiracy theories. Greene retorted by labeling Maitlis a conspiracy theorist and accusing the left and media of spreading falsehoods. The tension escalated when Maitlis mentioned a controversial 2018 Facebook post by Greene, which had falsely suggested Jewish involvement in a California wildfire due to a neglected electrical grid—a post Greene has since removed. Greene’s terse reply to the “Jewish space lasers” query was to tell the reporter to “f–k off.”
Earlier in the interview, Greene had been more reserved, discussing Republican strategies for the presidential race and expressing support for Trump as the GOP’s clear frontrunner. She encouraged Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and UN ambassador, to withdraw from the presidential race in favor of Trump. When asked about potentially joining a future Trump administration, Greene deflected, emphasizing her support for Trump in any capacity but dismissing Haley as a vice-presidential contender.
The interview captures the current political climate’s intensity, highlighting Greene’s staunch defense of her positions and her blunt refusal to entertain questions she deemed provocative or baseless. This exchange underscores the polarized reactions elicited by discussions of conspiracy theories and the challenges reporters face when navigating interviews with public figures entrenched in their viewpoints.