Well, like clockwork, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) started using this week’s earthquake in the northeastern United States for strange, politicized purposes. She deemed the occurrence a sign from above, seeming to argue that the quake and a forthcoming solar eclipse were indicative of heavenly dissatisfaction with the socio-political directions the country has taken.
“God is sending America strong signs to tell us to repent. Earthquakes and eclipses and many more things to come. I pray that our country listens,” Greene said on her personal account on X, the social media platform formerly called Twitter.
David Hogg, a survivor of a school shooting in southeastern Florida in 2018 and activist against gun violence, was among those to reply. Hogg and Greene actually have a history. Prior to Greene’s ascent to Congress, she was once captured on camera confronting Hogg in the streets of Washington, D.C.
“Meanwhile republicans say we spend too much on education,” Hogg quipped.
Former GOP Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who remains outspoken after his exit from Congress, also responded. “Fun fact. There are about 3 solar eclipses worldwide per year, and many earthquakes. Both events were predetermined at the creation of the universe. The solar eclipse is not a sign. It’s just a really cool show, if the clouds cooperate[.] This lady is in congress?” he wrote Friday on X.
Needless to say, there are natural world-based, scientific explanations for the eclipse and the quake, the latter of which rattled communities across New Jersey, New York, and elsewhere.
Greene is currently engaged in a political stand-off with Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.). In conjunction with the House recently approving a government funding package controversial on the far-right, Greene unveiled a motion that would boot Johnson from his leadership role in the chamber, though it’s yet to go to a vote.
