Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene told Emily Maitlis to ‘f*** off’ after the British journalist questioned her over the conspiracy claim that Jewish space lasers started the California wildfires.
The former BBC presenter took aim at the Republican Congresswoman at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago headquarters on Super Tuesday after the former president swept through in all but one state.
Maitlis, who now fronts The News Agents Podcast, first asked Greene, 49, what message the GOP had for Trump challenger Nikki Haley following Tuesday’s results and who the former president should choose as his running mate.
She then – in an apparent bid to rile the Congresswoman up – slipped into a clearly controversial question, probing Greene about the ‘Jewish space lasers’ conspiracy from six years ago.
Maitlis asked, ‘Can you tell me why so many people that support love conspiracy theories, including yourself?’ But Greene hit back and accused Maitlis and the mainstream media of ‘spreading conspiracy theories’, before telling her to ‘f*** off’.
The anchor-turned-podcaster is known for grilling high-profile figures, most famously Prince Andrew, whose hour-long Newsnight interview with Maitlis in part led to his withdrawal from public life and having his Royal titles removed.
Maitlis hosts her News Agents show alongside Jon Sopel, another ex-BBC presenter and the broadcaster’s former North America editor, who has described the Trump presidency as the ‘Wild West’.
Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene told Emily Maitlis to ‘f*** off’ on Tuesday night after the British journalist questioned her about her conspiracy claim that Jewish space lasers started the California wildfires
Maitlis appeared pious and was seemingly gloating after the goad, offering a little smile to the camera as Greene stormed off
Maitlis confronted the Republican Congresswoman at Donald Trump ‘s Mar-a-Lago headquarters on Super Tuesday after the former president secured big wins in several states. Pictured: Trump speaks during the election night watch party at Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, on March 5, 2024
Maitlis stopped Greene on Tuesday after Trump clinched victories in 14 out of 15 state primaries.
The former TV news presenter asked the Georgia Republican what the ‘message should be to Nikki Haley tonight’.
Greene answered: ‘We’ve been encouraging her to drop out and support President Trump and I think tonight is the clear message that President Trump is the clear front runner. He’s the winner in our Republican primary and it’s time for Nikki Haley to drop out and support him.’
It has since emerged that Haley will surrender to Trump in a speech on Wednesday morning, guaranteeing a rematch between President Joe Biden and Trump in November.
Maitlis also asked if Trump was ‘closer to picking his VP’ and if Greene ‘should be on that list’.
‘That’s the question everyone asks and no, I don’t think Nikki Haley should be on the list. But of course President Trump will choose who he wants for VP,’ Greene said.
Maitlis doubled down, asking again: ‘Would you like to be on that list?’
Greene told her that Trump has a ‘long list’ and that she would support Trump in ‘any way he’d ask me’, but added: ‘I can assure you, it won’t be Nikki Haley.’
The journalist then asked Greene why there were so many apparent conspiracy theorists in Trump’s party, claiming the congresswoman as among their ranks.
‘Well, let me tell you, you’re a conspiracy theorist and the left and the media spreads more conspiracy theories. We like “the truth.” We like supporting our Constitution, our freedoms and America first,’ Greene replied as she tried to walk away.
Maitlis fired back, asking: ‘What about Jewish space lasers – tell us about Jewish space lasers.’
Cutting her off, a divisive Greene ranted: ‘We’re all done now… why don’t you go talk about Jewish space lasers and really why don’t you f*** off.’
Greene had promoted a conspiracy that ‘state-of-the-art Jewish space lasers’ were being used to shoot down Santa Claus.
In 2021, the Republic reportedly said: ‘If you want to win the war on Christmas, first you take out the person who makes Christmas possible.’
Maitlis appeared pious and was seemingly gloating after the goad, offering a little smile to the camera as Greene stormed off.
The Camp Fire in California in November 2018 killed 85 people and was caused by faulty Pacific Gas and Electric Company equipment. Greene connected PG&E to a company she claimed made space lasers and also to the former Democratic governor of California
Greene, seemingly frustrated by the line of questioning, argued ‘we like the truth’ and accused Maitlis, the left and the media of ‘spreading more conspiracy theories’ than Trump’s supporters. Maitlis hit back, asking ‘what about Jewish space lasers?’, but Greene shut down the conversation by tell her to ‘go talk about Jewish space lasers and to ‘go f*** off’
The anchor-turned-podcaster is known for grilling high-profile figures, most famously Prince Andrew, whose hour-long Newsnight interview with Maitlis in 2019 (pictured) in part led to his withdraw from public life and having his Royal titles removed
Social media users have slammed Maitlis and The News Agents for the interview, which they alleged was shared to get ‘attention, engagement and views’.
‘Totally wrong approach here from Emily. This type of journalism is on its way out…. the attendees at my workshop can do a better job. First of all stop using the term conspiracy theorist – it winds people up,’ one wrote.
‘Ask stupid, wind up questions why would anyone be surprised at her response,’ tweeted another.
‘I’m sorry but that’s made me chuckle- she’d answered so well until the last word!’ one said of Greener.
Another X user added: ‘Emily Mathis is awful. The absolute embodiment of the panicked neoliberal elite.’
But others, have applauded the way Maitlis took direct aim at Greene, with some claiming she was correct by ‘challenging this poor excuse of a so called politician’.
One wrote: ‘Love how Maitlis goes in with the cosy chat and then ensnares her prey for an absolute ruthless killing. Blood and guts sprayed everywhere.’
‘Well done @maitlis,’ tweeted another. ‘That was just glorious and the way you just carried on with “thank you very much” and smirked at the camera. Totally showed her for what she is. Broadcasting gold.’
‘I thought I couldn’t love you more Emily, I was wrong!’ an X user added.
Some social media users have criticized Maitlis’ interview tactics, while others applauded the way she took direct aim at Greene
Maitlis was in the US on Tuesday reporting for her daily podcast The News Agents, which she hosts with Lewis Goodall and Sopel, both of whom previously worked for BBC.
Sopel and the former president even shared a heated back-and-forth at a White House press conference while Trump held office.
Trump referred to Sopel as ‘another beauty’ in a February 2017 press conference, after asking the then-BBC North America editor which organization he was from.
Sopel responded by saying ‘It’s a good line’, before adding: ‘Impartial, free and fair’.
Earlier this year, while appearing on LBC’s Nick Ferrari at Breakfast after Trump’s victory in the New Hampshire primary, Sopel also stated that America ‘can do better’ than Trump or Biden for president.
He likened the pair facing off in the race for the White House to ‘two old men fighting over a Zimmer frame’.
Maitlis took aim at Greene over a since-deleted Facebook post from November 2018 in which she said she believed California’s deadliest wildfire was potentially caused by space lasers that were connected to the Rothschilds and former Gov. Jerry Brown to clear the way for a high-speed rail system.
The post detailed her views on how the devastating Camp Fire got started, which killed 85 people, saying, ‘there are too many coincidences to ignore.’
Greene tried to connect the Pacific Gas and Electric Company – whose faulty equipment did start the blaze – through one of its board members to Rothschild Inc., in an anti-Semitic dog whistle.
She laid out connections between Brown and PG&E, suggesting financial contributions the energy company made to the Democratic governor ensured its protection.
She alleged that the fire may have been purposely set to clear the way for a railroad project Brown supported.
Greene also brought in the name of another prominent California Democrat, that of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, suggesting she may also be involved as her husband, Richard Blum, had invested in the rail project.
The cause of the fire isn’t a mystery as PG&E pleaded guilty of being responsible and agreed to pay out more than $25billion in damages.
Marjorie Taylor Greene is a die-hard supporter of Donald Trump. The pair are pictured together at the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf tournament on July 30, 2022
Trump and Biden both had good nights but suffered a surprise defeat each
Trump supporters put on a show of force at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday night as they waited for the former president to deliver a speech on Tuesday evening
Donald Trump Jr. was in the audience to hear his father speak on Super Tuesday
A die-hard supporter of Trump, Greene has a long history of incendiary social media posts – including ones in which she expressed racist views and support for QAnon conspiracy theories, which focus on the debunked belief that top Democrats are involved in child sex trafficking, Satan worship and cannibalism.
Greene has also spread false claims about the integrity of the 2020 presidential election – repeating Trump’s baseless allegations of fraud – and railed against public health requirements implemented to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Some of her comments regarding mass shootings at schools in Newtown, Connecticut, and Parkland, Florida led her to lose her committee positions when Democrats still controlled the House.
Still, she earned back seats at the table when Republicans won a majority in the 2022 midterms, and Kevin McCarthy became House Speaker.
Reports also surfaced social media activity where Greene showed support for Facebook posts that advocated violence against Democrats and the FBI, including posts that called for the death of Nancy Pelosi and former President Barack Obama.
The congresswoman, frequently referred to by her initials MTG, has linked the Democrats to the Nazis and pushed the discredited Pizzagate conspiracy that Democrat officials were connected to a human trafficking and child sex ring.
She also asserted the QAnon conspiracy that ‘America is run by pedophiles and Satan-worshippers running a global child sex-trafficking operation and that former President Trump is the only person who can stop them.’
BBC presenter Emily Maitlis insists she never set out to destroy Prince Andrew’s Royal standing or career future with their notorious Newsnight interview
Andrew said he had no recollection of meeting Virginia Giuffre, who he was pictured with alongside Ghislaine Maxwell (right)
Maitlis likely feels no regret over her interaction with Greene, as she has previously said she remains ‘proud’ of the notorious 2019 Newsnight interview that in part ended the Duke of York’s career.
Last year, Maitlis said she never set out to destroy his Royal standing or career future with their interview, but added that she remains ‘proud’ of it.
The TV host said she felt Andrew decided to push forward with a chat to aid his daughters’ long term reputation amid his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of his own sex abuse, which he has always denied.
The popular presenter and journalist confided that she felt her ‘cross examination’ could prove to be essential evidence in a potential criminal or civil trial for the former Duke Of York.
While PR experts and Royal insiders declared the ‘interview of a lifetime’ a career ending disaster, Maitlis also defended Andrew’s efforts to speak about the scandal.
Maitlis’ interview with Andrew will be depicted in Netflix’s highly-awaited film Scoop. Award-winning actress Gillian Anderson, 55, is playing the former BBC presenter in the dramatization, adapted from Sam McAlister’s book.
But Maitlis, 53, refused to meet with Anderson in the lead up to filming as she is working on her own project based on the sensational televised interview, Grazia reports.
Instead, The Crown actress spent her time trawling through footage of Maitlis, listening to her The News Agents podcast and reading her autobiography Airhead.
Trump and President Joe Biden romped coast-to-coast on Super Tuesday, all but cementing a November rematch and increasing pressure on Haley to leave the Republican race. Pictured: Trump arrives for an election-night watch party at Mar-a-Lago on March 5, 2024 in West Palm Beach
Nikki Haley hosts a campaign event in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 4, 2024
Trump was watched by family members. From left to right: Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr. Tiffany Trump is on the far right but there was no sign of Melania
Hundreds of glamorous young men and women watched the results roll in at Mar-a-Lago on Super Tuesday and celebrated the former president’s expected avalanche of delegates
Meanwhile, Trump and Biden romped coast-to-coast on Super Tuesday, all but cementing a November rematch and increasing pressure on Haley to leave the Republican race.
Trump, 77, and Biden, 81, trained their fire on each other as the race drew to a close. They barely paused to count their wins before taking aim.
‘November 5th is going to go down as the single most important day in the history of our country,’ said Trump in the glittering ballroom of his Mar-a-Lago club.
Biden laid out a similarly stark choice.
‘Tonight’s results leave the American people with a clear choice: Are we going to keep moving forward or will we allow Donald Trump to drag us backwards into the chaos, division, and darkness that defined his term in office?’ he said.
Trump did not even mention his challenger’s name (in contrast to his victory speech in New Hampshire when he railed against her) instead continuing his pivot to the presidential election and launching fresh salvoes on Biden.
He said there had ‘never been anything so conclusive’ as the primary results and promised to rebuild America after what he said was three years of decline under Biden.
‘We’re not respected right now our country is known as a joke. It’s a joke.
‘Other leaders … can’t believe what happened to us because three years ago we were the most respected country anywhere in the world by far.’
He went on to attack Biden over the US-Mexico border and the country’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Biden and Trump each won California, Texas, Alabama, Colorado, Maine, Oklahoma, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Minnesota and Massachusetts.
Biden also won the Democratic primaries in Utah, Vermont and Iowa.
Haley won Vermont, denying Trump a full sweep, but the former president carried other states that might have been favorable to her such as Virginia, Massachusetts and Maine, which have large swathes of moderate voters like those who have backed her in previous primaries.
The former UN Ambassador and South Carolina governor will finally surrender to Trump in a speech on Wednesday morning delivered from her home state, reports The Wall Street Journal.
In her speech, Haley will not endorse Trump but will encourage him to ‘earn the support of Republican and independent voters who backed her,’ according to the report.
Haley will also speak Wednesday about conservative values, such as an active foreign policy, as opposed to MAGA isolationism and tighter government spending.
Her campaign made history as she became the first Republican woman to win two primaries, in Vermont and the District of Columbia, thus preventing a total blowout.