Former representative Adam Kinzinger delivered his criticism of Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene on 14 November 2025 during the annual Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, Texas. Speaking before an audience at the event, he described Greene as the biggest con artist ever, intensifying ongoing divisions inside the Republican Party.
Kinzinger, a Republican figure who broke with the MAGA movement after the 2020 election and the January 6 attack, argued that Greene relies on attention-seeking tactics rather than serious lawmaking. He stated that her political style prioritizes conflict and spectacle, warning that this strategy threatens Republican efforts to broaden support nationally.
The former lawmaker said Greene gained prominence through aggressive rhetoric, claims aligned with conspiracy theories, and a combative media presence that strengthened her within the MAGA faction. Her actions repeatedly generated national controversy, allowing her to build a loyal following and secure significant visibility despite consistent criticisms.
Kinzinger also emphasized that Greene used this notoriety to elevate her personal brand rather than advance responsible governance. He argued that her approach weakens the credibility of congressional Republicans, disrupts legislative priorities, and feeds a political environment driven more by viral moments than meaningful policy outcomes.
The remarks reflected growing anxiety among some Republicans concerned about the expanding influence of Greene. Party strategists fear that her confrontational style may alienate moderate voters, complicate coalition building, and damage efforts to regain control in competitive districts that will determine congressional power in upcoming national elections.
Note that Greene and U.S. President Donald Trump are also clashing over the Epstein files. The president announced on 15 November 2025 that he will be dropping his support for Greene for the upcoming mid-term election in 2026. Greene has been vocal about the public release of all files related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. She felt that this angered Trump.
Kinzinger became an anti-MAGA after witnessing how Trump supporters embraced false election claims and the Capitol attack on 6 January 2021. He publicly opposed efforts to overturn the 2020 election, criticizing extreme rhetoric, conspiratorial narratives, and violence that he believed threatened democracy and the long-term credibility of the Republican party.
The public rebuke at the Texas Tribune Festival highlighted the widening ideological and strategic split inside the Republican Party. Greene remains influential among Republican voters, but the criticism of Kinzinger underscored resistance from Republicans who favor traditional conservatism and view her behavior as harmful to the long-term direction of the party.