Marjorie Taylor Greene tests Trump's limits

For years she was one of Donald Trump’s most loyal foot soldiers. Marjorie Taylor Greene trafficked in racist statements, indicated support for executing Democrats and even floated conspiracy theories about Jewish space lasers. Beneath a red “Make America great again” cap, she became an instantly recognisable face of the Maga movement.

- By David Smith WASHINGTON and George Chidi ATLANTA

Yet in recent months the Georgia congresswoman has surprised friend and foe alike. On issues ranging from healthcare to Gaza to the Jeffrey Epstein files, she has broken ranks with Republicans and won unlikely fans among Democrats. The streak of independence has stirred speculation about her motives - and ambitions.

Greene has stopped short of directly criticising Trump and has so far avoided incurring his wrath. But her dissent is all the more remarkable under a president who notoriously prizes loyalty and punishes critics.

“I was wrong about Marjorie Taylor Greene,” was the headline of an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article last week by political columnist Patricia Murphy, who wrote: “Even if you don’t agree with Greene on everything - or even most things - you have to admire her willingness in this moment to say what is true, even when other Republicans refuse to.”