MAGA Infighting Erupts as Greene and Johnson Trade Barbs Over Massie Allegations

The MAGA movement is facing internal strife as two of its most prominent figures—former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and podcaster Benny Johnson—engaged in a public feud on Wednesday. The dispute centered on Johnson’s criticism of Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie.

Johnson had attacked Massie, a longtime critic of former President Donald Trump, over allegations that the Kentucky Republican paid hush-money to a former girlfriend, Cynthia West. West claimed Massie offered up to $5,000 to drop a wrongful termination complaint against one of his allies, Representative Victoria Spartz. Massie, who is up for re-election in November, has denied any wrongdoing. His local primary is scheduled for next week.

Johnson’s coverage of the allegations was harsh. He derided Massie as a “pig” who has been “squealing” about Trump and compared his scandal to that of Eric Swalwell, whose gubernatorial campaign in California collapsed last month amid accusations of sexual misconduct and rape by multiple women.

Greene responded to a clip of Johnson’s show, stating:

“This is a clinic on how to call out the lies of social media influencers that get paid to spew propaganda.”

She added that Johnson had not given her the “courtesy” of asking “if any of these lies were true” and that she had previously considered him a friend.

Johnson fired back, dismissing Greene’s appeal to their past alliance:

“I know everyone has become very fragile and overly-emotional lately so let me explain this calmly and slowly: I cover trending news topics on my show. I’m entitled to my opinions on these matters. I serve my audience. That’s my job. And unlike you, I won’t run away from my job when things get tough.”

Greene escalated the confrontation:

“You are a LYING scumbag @bennyjohnson and just to be clear we are definitely not friends. All you cover and elevate are trending LIES. And get paid to do it. Literally the most repulsive level of MAGA.”

The former Georgia lawmaker then alleged multiple rumors about Johnson’s conduct, including:

• “Allegations about young men at conservative conferences,”
• “Allegations that he was paid by Russia and Israel,”
• “Allegations that Johnson rips off people’s content and articles and pretends that they’re his own.”

Johnson replied to Greene’s accusations, dismissing them as “evidence free slander.”