Marjorie Taylor Greene Calls for Removal of Foreign Press

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) stirred controversy on Friday, January 31,  by calling for the removal of foreign journalists from the White House press briefing room. Her comments came after a reporter with a French accent asked a question during White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's briefing. 
Greene, in a post on social media, wrote, "How about that accent from that reporter? I think we need to throw out all the foreign press! American media first!" 
Her remarks quickly drew backlash, with critics accusing her of pushing an extreme nationalist stance that undermines the role of international journalism in covering U.S. affairs.
Here's what happened. 
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Praise for Leavitt's Response on DEI in Aviation

Greene's post was initially meant to commend Leavitt, who received praise from MAGA influencers for her handling of questions regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the aviation sector. 
A popular conservative figure shared a clip from the briefing, praising Leavitt for her response when asked about President Donald Trump's executive order ending DEI hiring practices at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 
Leavitt stated, "When you are flying on an airplane with your loved ones, do you pray that your plane lands safely and gets you to your destination or do you pray that your pilot has a certain skin color? I think we all know the answer to that question." 
Greene echoed the sentiment, writing that Leavitt was "bringing sanity and common sense" to the press room.

Trump's Executive Order and Aviation Hiring Policies

During the press briefing, Leavitt reiterated President Trump's firm stance on terminating DEI programs at the FAA following the deadly midair collision over the Potomac River. She emphasized that the administration is prioritizing "merit and skills" over identity-based hiring practices. 
Leavitt argued that requiring air traffic controllers to disclose their race in job applications had harmed morale and potentially compromised safety. 
"Ordering people to provide details that were not relevant at all to the job lessened the morale of those in the aviation sector," she said. 
Trump's decision has been met with strong reactions, with supporters arguing it ensures the highest safety standards, while critics warn that it could undermine diversity efforts within the industry.

NTSB Investigation into Fatal Midair Collision Continues

While political debate rages over aviation hiring practices, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is continuing its investigation into the cause of the tragic collision.
Recovery crews are still working to pull wreckage from the Potomac River as officials work to determine what went wrong. 
The preliminary findings are expected to be released within 30 days, while a final report detailing the probable cause could take much longer. The crash has "renewed discussions about safety standards in aviation and whether policy changes under the Trump administration will have a lasting impact on air traffic control procedures," one analyst shared on X.

Backlash Over Greene's 'American Media First' Comments

Greene's call to remove foreign journalists from the White House press briefing room has sparked widespread criticism from both political opponents and journalists. Many have condemned her remarks as an attack on press freedom, with some pointing out that foreign correspondents play a crucial role in covering U.S. politics for global audiences. 
Others accused her of using nationalist rhetoric to score political points, while some just chalked it up to "heard it all before trolling from an increasingly boring nob head who needs to feed her base," in the blunt words of one commenter on Bluesky.
Despite the backlash, Greene doubled down on her statement emphasizing her belief that "American media should have priority." 
Whether this sentiment gains traction within Trump's administration remains to be seen, but it has certainly reignited debates about press access and the role of international media in Washington, D.C.