Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) is no longer planning to launch her “America First” caucus, which espoused nativity and white supremacist ideas, following backlash from other Republicans, according to CNN.
On Friday, Punchbowl News first reported on a document that appeared to provide an overview of the policy posture of the new “America First Caucus” tied to Reps. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and Greene. The caucus document urges for a pause in immigration while invoking language of nativism and white supremacy. It also suggests that the United States is “strengthened by a common respect for uniquely Anglo-Saxon political traditions” and vows “to follow in President Trump’s footsteps.”
Nick Dyer, a spokesperson for Greene, said in a statement to CNN on Friday that the Georgia lawmaker would launch the caucus “very soon.”
However, Dyer issued a stark reversal a day after, telling CNN in an email on Saturday afternoon that Greene is not “launching anything.”
“The Congresswoman wants to make clear that she is not launching anything. This was an early planning proposal and nothing was agreed to or approved,” Dyer told CNN in an email, referring to a flier promoting the caucus.
Dyer also denied that Greene approved the language in the flier, according to CNN.
In a series of tweets Saturday afternoon, Greene claimed that the staff-level draft proposal of her nativist caucus came “from an outside group that I hadn’t read.” Greene also baselessly blamed the media for spreading “false narratives” while touting herself as the purveyor of former President Trump’s “America First” agenda.
Greene’s reversal of launching her pro-nativist caucus comes on the heels of backlash from Republican leaders over her controversial caucus.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) stated in a Friday tweet that the Republican Party is not the party of “nativist dog whistles,” without mentioning the caucus directly.
America is built on the idea that we are all created equal and success is earned through honest, hard work. It isn’t built on identity, race, or religion.
The Republican Party is the party of Lincoln & the party of more opportunity for all Americans—not nativist dog whistles.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) April 16, 2021
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), the House GOP conference chair who urged fellow Republican lawmakers to “make clear that we aren’t the party of white supremacy” in response to the deadly Capitol insurrection in January, appeared to take aim at the Greene-led caucus in a tweet on Friday.
Republicans believe in equal opportunity, freedom, and justice for all. We teach our children the values of tolerance, decency and moral courage. Racism, nativism, and anti-Semitism are evil. History teaches we all have an obligation to confront & reject such malicious hate.
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) April 16, 2021
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) suggested on Friday that members of Congress who join a newly-formed, far-right caucus that has espoused nativist and white supremacist ideas should be stripped of their committees.
I believe anyone that joins this caucus should have their committees stripped, and the Republican conference should expel them from conference participation. While we can’t prevent someone from calling themselves Republican, we can loudly say they don’t belong to us. https://t.co/ULEF5MRyWf
— Adam Kinzinger (@AdamKinzinger) April 16, 2021
