Marjorie Taylor Greene's latest Jan. 6 remark sparks firestorm (2024)

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene's latest remark about the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, sparked a firestorm across social media on Saturday.

Thousands of Donald Trump supporters stormed the U.S Capitol building in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. The riot erupted following claims from Trump that the election had been stolen from him via widespread voter fraud. Despite there being no evidence to back up his claims, Trump's allies on Capitol Hill spread the same claims and his supporters believed them.

More than a thousand rioters have been charged in relation to the attack on the Capitol and Trump currently faces four felony counts for his alleged actions surrounding the riot. The former president has pleaded not guilty and claims the federal case against him is politically motivated.

On Saturday, Greene, a Georgia Republican who is a staunch ally of Trump, took to the stage of Turning Point Action's (TPA) convention in Detroit to speak about January 6 as she condemned those who "shame us" for that day.

"Any Democrat, any person from the mainstream media and anyone that wants to continue to shame us for January 6th can go to hell," the congresswoman said as the crowd erupted in a loud applause and cheers at the event.

Greene has repeatedly expressed skepticism about what happened on January 6 and has routinely touted conspiracy theories and misinformation about the 2020 election. In 2021, she described inmates being held at a Washington, D.C., jail in connection with the Capitol riot as "political prisoners of war" in a social media post.

Newsweek has reached out to Greene's office via email for comment.

Despite the crowd seemingly agreeing with the congresswoman, some have taken to X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday to condemn her comments.

Democrat and X user Harry Sisson wrote, "LOL! Marjorie Taylor Greene is LOSING IT right now 'Anyone that wants to continue shame us for January 6th can go to hell." Or, how about this Marjorie: anybody who planned or participated in Jan 6th should be in jail and it should be condemned? Lunatic."

X user Chidi wrote, "It's no longer news that they do not have the capacity for shame or embarrassment."

While X user Kaylan_TX noted allegations that Greene asked the White House Counsel's office for a pardon writing on X, "I'm old enough to remember her seeking a pardon for Jan.6th mere days into her 1st term."

The allegations stem from a hearing conducted by the House select committee tasked with investigating the riot, in which former Trump administration officials revealed several Republican politicians allegedly asked Trump for pardons in the wake of the 2020 election.

Cassidy Hutchinson, who served as an assistant to former chief of staff Mark Meadows, testified that she heard that Greene asked the White House Counsel's Office for a pardon.

However, X user Patsy Whitfield defended Greene's speech at the convention and wrote, "Thank you, MTG! I've never seen so many nasty posts than what you have to deal with daily. Hope you find the positive ones, too. Enjoy TPUSA. You represent!"

Meanwhile, according to a January poll by The Washington Post and the University of Maryland, a majority of Americans (55 percent) believe January 6 was an attack on democracy, while 43 percent said too much has been made of it.

In addition, 26 percent of voters said the legal punishments for people who entered the Capitol have been too harsh while 38 percent said the penalties have not been harsh enough, and 35 percent said they've been fair.

When compared to the same poll two years ago, it appears voters' opinions about the protesters have softened, however. In 2021, 54 percent of voters said the protesters were mostly peaceful, and 51 percent said they believed those charged deserved tougher punishments.