Who is Marjorie Taylor Greene? Trump called QAnon supporter a ‘future Republican star’

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a GOP congressional candidate from Georgia and a supporter of the QAnon conspiracy theory, received President Trump’s approval on Wednesday when he congratulated her on her primary runoff win.

“Congratulations to future Republican Star Marjorie Taylor Greene on a big Congressional primary win in Georgia against a very tough and smart opponent,” Trump tweeted. “Marjorie is strong on everything and never gives up — a real WINNER!”

Greene won the Republican primary in Georgia’s 14th District, beating neurosurgeon John Cowan to replace Republican Tom Graves after he retired, The Hill reported. She won the primary runoff after neither candidate got more than 50 percent of the vote.

Greene’s victory puts her in a strong position to win the House seat in the fall. The district is heavily Republican, with Trump receiving 75% of the vote in the 2016 presidential election, far surpassing the 50% he got statewide in Georgia.

“She’s a hypocrite,” Greene said in her victory speech, referring to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, according to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter. “She’s anti-American. And we’re going to kick that b— out of Congress.”

Georgia Democratic Party Executive Director Scott Hogan slammed Greene’s victory.

“Republican extremism is on the ballot across Georgia and Marjorie Taylor Greene’s primary win tonight after embracing vile racism and conspiracy theories represents exactly what’s wrong with today’s GOP,” he said. “Her candidacy was designed to benefit Karen Handel and her words have been embraced by Rich McCormick. Georgia Republicans own this crisis and their mealy-mouthed statements can’t hide the fact that Marjorie Taylor Greene’s nomination is a stain on their party.”

Greene is a believer of the QAnon conspiracy theory, whose supporters think Trump and his administration are battling “deep state saboteurs” engaged in child sex trafficking and worshiping Satan, The Washington Post reported.

The unfounded theory originated in 2017 and is centered around an anonymous figure known only as “Q” who purportedly is leaking information from inside the government, according to The Washington Post. The belief has been associated with violence, including two killings, vandalism of a church, kidnapping, and a standoff at the Hoover Dam.

“Q is a patriot,” Greene said in a YouTube video. “We know that for sure.”

“There’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take this global cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles out, and I think we have the president to do it,” Greene added.

The FBI has identified QAnon as a “potential domestic terrorism threat.”

Twitter has removed thousands of accounts spreading QAnon theories, The New York Times reported.

“We’ve been clear that we will take strong enforcement action on behavior that has the potential to lead to offline harm. In line with this approach, this week we are taking further action on so-called ‘QAnon’ activity across the service,” Twitter wrote.

Greene also incited backlash for racist comments in Facebook videos.

In videos uncovered by Politico, Greene reportedly said the 2018 midterm elections were “an Islamic invasion of our government” and that “anyone that is a Muslim that believes in Sharia law does not belong in our government.” Greene, who is white, also said Black people “are held slaves to the Democratic Party” and she would be “proud” to see a Confederate monument if she were Black.

Greene’s remarks were condemned by Republican leaders in Congress, according to the publication.

“These comments are appalling, and Leader McCarthy has no tolerance for them,” Drew Florio, a spokesman for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, told Politico.

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, a Republican from Louisiana, supported Greene’s opponent in the primary.

“The comments made by Ms. Greene are disgusting and don’t reflect the values of equality and decency that make our country great,” Scalise said. “I will be supporting Dr. Cowan.”

Facebook also removed an ad that showed Greene threatening Antifa protesters and holding a rifle, according to NPR. The social media company said the ad “violated its policies against inciting violence.”