In response to online criticism, U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, reiterated her belief that Friday’s earthquake in the Northeast and the forthcoming solar eclipse throughout North America were signals from God.
On Friday, following a 4.8 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter in New Jersey that shook the Northeast, Greene wrote on X, previously Twitter, that she saw the natural phenomenon as spiritual symbolism.
“God is sending America clear signs to repent. Earthquakes, eclipses, and much more are on the way. Greene wrote, “I pray that our country listens.”
Readers provided context in reaction to Greene’s comment, culminating in a community note beneath the original article. They noted that astronomers had known for years that the solar eclipse on April 8 would occur. Furthermore, the National Earthquake Information Center states that approximately 55 earthquakes occur each day around the world, produced by movement between the earth’s tectonic plates on active or inactive faults.
Greene responded to the online outrage on Sunday, writing on X: “Many have mocked and scoffed at this post, and even put community notes.” She highlighted a Bible passage in which Jesus told a crowd, “You understand how to evaluate the look of the Earth and the sky. How come you don’t know how to understand the present?
“Yes, eclipses are predictable and earthquakes happen and we know when comets are passing by, however God created all of these things and uses them to be signs for those of us who believe,” he wrote.
The far-right Republican frequently makes news for her remarks. The Donald Trump supporter swore at a British journalist at the end of an on-camera interview in March when challenged about a conspiracy theory she had proposed. Greene also interrupted President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech, prompting him to respond with spontaneous remarks about Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, whose murder has been a flashpoint in immigration issues this election year.