Marjorie Taylor Greene Distances Herself From 'America First' Caucus Plan Knocked by Key Republicans

Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene distanced herself from a reported proposal by the newly formed 'America First' caucus, after top GOP lawmakers accused the group of promoting white supremacy and nativism.

Greene, alongside Arizona Republican Representative Paul Gosar, confirmed the co-creation of the America First Caucus on Friday. Later that day, the newly formed group came under severe criticism from top Republicans after a leaked report by Punchbowl News appeared to detail its highly controversial platform.

On Saturday, Greene denied reports that the group's platform was "racist," and said the proposal released by Punchbowl News was "a staff level draft proposal from an outside group that I hadn't read."

"On Friday, sick and evil POS [piece of s****] in the media attacked me with phrases I never said or wrote," Greene said in a statement to Newsweek. "The scum and liars in the media are calling me a racist by taking something out of context," she added.

According to a seven-page document that reportedly outlined the group's policy plan, the America First caucus said it was calling for a "common respect for uniquely Anglo-Saxon political traditions," and a return to an architectural style that "befits the progeny or European architecture."

Anglo-Saxon is a term for white people related to Germanic inhabitants of fifth-century England, prompting several Republican lawmakers to accuse the group of being "white supremacist" and hateful.

"The media are ones focused on race and use it to divide the American people with hate through identity politics. I believe in America First with all my heart and that means every American, of every race, creed, and color. I will never back down and I will never stop fighting for America First. There are tens of millions of Americans who agree. We are side by side. People over politicians," Greene said.

Greene's statements come after several top Republicans and members of the conservative Freedom Caucus publicly rejected the new group on Friday, following the report from Punchbowl News.

According to Forbes, even top members of the Freedom Caucus, a coalition of the most conservative lawmakers in the House of Representatives, pushed back against the new group with "fury," over its allegedly racist focus.

One Freedom Caucus member, Representative Ken Buck of Colorado, told the news outlet he has no plans to join the American First caucus and took to Twitter Friday night to slam it for promoting "hatefulness."

"The hatefulness of this statement is only surpassed by its ignorance of American history and values," Buck tweeted.

In a separate tweet, Buck clarified that he was "condemning" the new group.

Additional House Republicans, including Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, responded to the group's alleged platform by stating that the GOP is not the party of "nativist dog whistles."

"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," McCarthy tweeted Friday, in an apparent swipe against the new group. "The Republican Party is the party of Lincoln & the party of more opportunity for all Americans—not nativist dog whistles."

Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger also condemned the group on Friday and called on congressional GOP leaders to expel any House conference member who joins the new caucus.

"I believe anyone that joins this caucus should have their committees stripped, and the Republican conference should expel them from conference participation," Kinzinger wrote in a tweet. "While we can't prevent someone from calling themselves Republican, we can loudly say they don't belong to us."

California Democratic Representative Ted Lieu mocked the caucus by asking if "non Aryans be allowed to join?" on Twitter.

"If so, do we have to sit in the back of the room because we're not white?" he added.

But despite the intense wave of criticism, Republican Florida Representative Matt Gaetz proudly announced his membership to the newly formed group via Twitter on Friday.

"I'm proud to join @mtgreenee in the #AmericaFirst Caucus," he tweeted, tagging Greene's Twitter account. "We will end wars, stop illegal immigration & promote trade that is fair to American workers."

Gaetz, who is currently under investigation for alleged sex trafficking, also linked to a Forbes article criticizing the group's Anglo-Saxon promotion, writing: "This is just a hit piece from the America Last crowd in Big Media, Big Tech & Big Government."

A freshman congresswoman, Greene has been a highly controversial lawmaker since she first won her House seat in November. In February, Greene was stripped of her House committee assignments after she came under fire for endorsing violence and a number of extremists conspiracy theories on social media.

The Georgia Republican is a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, and has repeatedly pushed the false narrative that the 2020 presidential election was stolen due to voter fraud.

On Saturday, Greene told Newsweek: "I have plans to drive President Trump's America First agenda with my Congressional colleagues but we won't let the media or anyone else push the narrative. America First policies will save this country for all of us, our children, and ultimately the world."