'Completely dead': How Trump himself 'killed' the MAGA movement

Former Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene says the results of the US midterms are not simply the end of an era but also the end of the MAGA movement she once championed and that only one person is to blame.Ms Greene is adamant that person is US President Donald Trump.Marjorie Taylor Greene was once one of MAGA's loudest voices. (Reuters: Kevin Lamarque)"The MAGA movement's completely dead, and Trump himself is the one that killed it," Ms Greene told 7.30.She said that might mean a period of upheaval in US politics as the landscape shifts to a Democrat-controlled House and Senate and the Republican Party looks to rebuild after the historic midterms loss that also turned the traditionally red state of Texas blue.Democrat James Talarico flipped the Texas Senate seat in an historic election. (Reuters: Kaylee Greenlee)"Does that mean that Americans change the way they feel on issues and the things they want? I don't think so," Ms Greene said."[But] how that gets reorganised, I think that'll take some time to see what everybody wants."Everyone asks, 'Are we having a third party? Who's going to be the new leader of Republicans?' I think those answers don't come easily and are actually going to have to take some time to sort themselves out."Ms Greene said that might mean a calmer United States and the removal of the partisanship and divisiveness that Trumpian politics has brought with it.Majorie Taylor Greene says the MAGA movement is now dead. (Reuters: Andrew Kelly)"The ground is changing, and issues that are important to the populist right are also important to the populist left," she said."What looks interesting to me for the future is where there can be common ground found between the left and the right, and people come together and work on those issues. "That's what younger generations want. "Many Americans are tired of the constant drama and fearmongering and insanity that gets shoved into their lives from Washington DC."Sun sets on the Trump eraMs Greene was formerly a huge supporter of Mr Trump but the pair fell out over her calls for the Epstein Files to be properly investigated.Marjorie Taylor Greene has called for the release of the remaining Epstein Files. (Reuters: Jonathan Ernst)She says the midterms results are a rebuke of Mr Trump and, in her words, were a "referendum" on his leadership."Last night was a referendum on Donald Trump and Donald Trump only," Ms Greene told 7.30 in Washington."He told everyone for the past year, 'Vote like I am on the ballot,' and the American people did."She accused him of turning his back on those who put him into the White House for the second time.Marjorie Taylor Greene says the midterm elections were a referendum on Trump's leadership. (AP: Karl DeBlaker)"The White House became a revolving door of foreign leaders," she said."The dinners he had existed with the big tech CEOs, leaders of major industries, the defence industry and so forth. "Those are the people that he constantly entertained ... he pretty much forgot about all the people that showed up to the MAGA rallies over and over for him."President Donald Trump next to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Elon Musk, and surrounded by top executives of AI firms. (AP: Jacquelyn Martin)Asked if this result meant the end of the Trump era, Ms Greene was clear."Yes, of course," she said."He's now a lame duck. "This is the second half of his second administration by our constitution. He cannot run for president again. He's also ... in his 80s now, so this Trump era is definitely on its way to sunset."'Like it or not', Israel an issueThe US involvement with Israel was a major factor in the midterm results, says Ms Greene. (Reuters: Jonathan Ernst)Cost of living, corruption allegations, immigration and the actions of ICE agents all played a part in how Americans voted but Ms Greene said the issue of the United States' support for Israel in multiple wars in the Middle East also had an impact.The war with Iran, in particular, has caused global oil prices to rise and seen Americans, along with citizens of many other nations, find pain at the pump.Ms Greene said the US involvement with Israel could not be ignored."It was a top issue whether people like it or not," she said."Our government leaders and most of my colleagues that I served in Congress with, the administration, the president himself, have basically lent themself to be used by foreign countries, government and military."It's not just Israel. If you filled that in with any other country, it would be equally as offensive."Majorie Taylor Green says Trump is now a "lame duck". (Reuters: Umit Bektas)However, she said that Israel's actions in Gaza made this worse.Israel's war was triggered by the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks led by Hamas.A UNICEF report released in June said that at least 20,179 children were killed in Gaza in the two years since October 7, 2023.Ms Greene said the number of child deaths had left Americans "disgusted"."These aren't terrorists," she said."We're talking about kids. And most Americans are so absolutely horrified and disgusted that our tax dollars, by the billions, go to that country every single year, that our military produced weapons and ammunition have been used to murder kids."Watch 7.30, Mondays to Thursdays 7:30pm on ABC iview and ABC TV