House Republicans express frustration with Marjorie Taylor Greene over her controversial hurricane conspiracy theories, with some even suggesting she needs a mental health evaluation. Greene, a controversial figure known for her extremist views, has been making headlines for claiming that Democrats are manipulating the weather, particularly in the wake of the recent hurricanes that have devastated the southeastern United States.
The congresswoman from Georgia sparked outrage when she asserted that ‘they’ have the ability to control the weather, following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which resulted in over two dozen casualties in her state and more than 230 across the country. Despite facing backlash, Greene stood by her comments, specifying that she was referring to governmental bodies like NOAA in a bid to reinforce her assertions.
Criticism of Greene’s unfounded claims has come from various quarters, including fellow Republican lawmakers whose constituencies have been directly impacted by the hurricanes. Carlos Gimenez from South Florida dismissed Greene’s assertions as fantastical, stating unequivocally that humans do not possess the capability to control natural disasters like hurricanes. Similarly, Chuck Edwards of North Carolina emphasized in a press release that weather manipulation is beyond human control, without explicitly naming Greene.
The debate over Greene’s statements has also brought attention to her track record on climate-related issues. An anonymous House Republican pointed out the inconsistency in Greene’s beliefs, noting she denies human impact on climate change while alleging weather control capabilities. The lawmaker described Greene’s stance as ‘loony tunes’, pointing to the absurdity of her claims.
In response to the mounting criticism, Greene attempted to provide further backing for her claims by referencing ‘weather modification project reports’ from the NOAA website, particularly highlighting cloud seeding practices. While cloud seeding is a legitimate technique to enhance rainfall, it has limitations and cannot influence the formation or trajectory of hurricanes, a fact clarified by NOAA.
As Hurricane Milton wreaks havoc in central Florida, Greene’s assertions have been met with scepticism and derision, with even President Joe Biden dismissing the notion of the government controlling natural disasters as preposterous. Amidst the fallout from her controversial remarks, Greene’s fellow Republicans are increasingly distancing themselves from her conspiracy theories, highlighting the growing discord within the party over her divisive statements.