The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Marjorie Taylor Greene receives invite to Trump speech at White House

- By Greg Bluestein Greg.Bluestein@ajc.com and Tia Mitchell Tia.Mitchell@ajc.com

Marjorie Taylor Greene, the controvers­ial Republican nominee in a Georgia congressio­nal race, posted a photo on social media of her invitation to Washington to watch President Donald Trump speak on the final night of the party’s national convention.

She is now set to watch the speech live along with Republican members of Congress, possibly some who have said they don’t think she is fit to serve in Congress.

Numerous state party leaders endorsed her opponent in the Aug. 11 GOP runoff after videos surfaced of Greene making racist and anti-Muslim comments. But she still won the race easily and is expected to coast to a general election win in November in the conservati­ve 14th Congressio­nal District. Trump has since said Greene, who also has spread the false QAnon conspiracy theory, is a “future Republican star.”

After winning the runoff, Greene received national attention for her controvers­ial remarks, which include calling House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a “bitch” in her victory speech. Some Republican­s have said they’re ready to welcome Greene in Washington while others have kept her at arm’s length.

She posted a picture late Monday afternoon of the blue invitation with gold lettering from Trump.

“I’m honored and thrilled to be invited to attend President Trump’s acceptance speech Thursday evening at the White House,” Greene wrote on Twitter.

Georgia congressme­n also accept Trump’s invitation

Several members of Georgia’s congressio­nal delegation plan to attend Trump’s convention keynote speech in person Thursday at the White House, accepting the invitation extended to most Republican members of Congress.

U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler will attend the event, along with U.S. Reps. Rick Allen of Evans, Buddy Carter of Pooler and Jody Hice of Monroe.

U.S. Rep. Doug Collins’ campaign said he won’t be attending but may be hosting a viewing party Thursday as he competes against Loeffler in November’s special election for the seat she holds. He also recorded a video in support of Trump that is scheduled to air on social media or the GOP website some time during the week.

The other members of Georgia’s GOP House delegation — U.S. Reps. Drew Ferguson, Tom Graves, Barry Loudermilk, Austin Scott and Rob Woodall — did not immediatel­y respond. U.S. Sen. David Perdue said Tuesday that he is recovering from knee surgery and expects to return to the campaign trail soon.

‘He got blocked.’ Jones faces criticism, support

A day after Democratic state Rep. Vernon Jones of Lithonia delivered a ringing endorsemen­t of President Donald Trump, he was on the receiving end of a swirl of criticism and support.

Dinesh D’Souza, a pro-Trump author, praised Jones’ “spine of steel,” and Fox News host Laura Ingraham exclaimed that he was “rocking” the convention.

Democrats reacted with a collective groan. State Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick, a Democrat, told her Twitter followers not to bother asking her to relay any messages to Jones. “He got blocked three months ago,” she said.

Looking ahead: Pence to give acceptance speech

Vice President Mike Pence will give his acceptance speech today from Fort McHenry, the Baltimore military installati­on that inspired the “Star Spangled Banner.”

 ??  ?? Marjorie Taylor Greene
Marjorie Taylor Greene

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