‘That’s a misquote’: Marjorie Taylor Greene caught backtracking after NBC host confronts her about controversial Holocaust comparison

NBC host Kristen Welker questioned Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Sunday about her past statements comparing COVID-19 rules to how Jews were treated in Nazi Germany. Greene appeared on Meet the Press one day before her last day in Congress. The interview focused on her controversial comments and her appearance at a conference organized by white nationalist Nick Fuentes.

Welker brought up Greene’s 2022 appearance at the America First Political Action Conference. “Let me ask you about your perspective right now. Do you believe there is room in the Republican Party for Nick Fuentes and anyone who shares that ideology, that Hitler is cool?” Greene, who announced she would leave Congress in November after a public fight with President Donald Trump, completely avoided answering the question.

Instead, Greene talked about defending free speech. According to HuffPost, she said she will always protect the First Amendment, even for speech she finds awful or disagrees with. Greene claimed this makes Americans unique. She then shifted the conversation to talk about censorship during the COVID-19 pandemic and her own Twitter ban.

Greene changed her story when pressed on the Holocaust comparison

Greene said her Twitter and Facebook accounts were suspended in January 2022 because she spoke against COVID vaccines and mask rules. She claimed she was banned for opposing FDA approval of vaccines and lockdowns. However, her accounts were actually suspended for spreading false information about COVID-19.

Welker directly confronted Greene about comparing pandemic lockdowns to the Holocaust. Before the host could finish her point about Fuentes praising Hitler, Greene interrupted and claimed she had been misquoted. She insisted she never compared lockdowns to the Holocaust. Instead, she said she only compared vaccine cards and vaccine requirements for jobs and businesses.

“No, that’s a misquote. Kirsten, that’s a misquote. That’s a misquote. That’s not correct,” she said. “I compared vaccine cards, being forced to take a vaccine in order to be able to keep a job or buy or sell, or be able to be admitted to restaurants. I compared that.”

The Georgia Republican has a history of making racist and anti-Muslim comments. She has also promoted conspiracy theories about Jewish people. Several months before her social media suspension, Greene faced heavy criticism for comparing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s mask rules to how Nazis treated Jewish people during the Holocaust. 

Greene later apologized for those comments. Her ongoing tensions with Trump have been well-documented in recent months. During the interview, Greene repeated her claim that she does not know Fuentes personally. 

She said they do not have each other’s phone numbers. Greene explained she spoke at his event because many young Americans attended, and she cares about that generation. However, she refused to criticize Fuentes for his comments praising Hitler. When pressed, Greene said she would not engage in deciding who deserves to be where. She has previously made controversial statements about Trump voters and their role in politics.