Body Language Experts Say Marjorie Taylor Greene’s CNN Apology For ‘Toxic Politics’ Reveals More Than She Intended

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was once President Donald Trump’s loyal ally, but in a new CNN interview, she broke rank with Trump and apologized for her own “toxic” actions, taking a softened, contrite tone that is a striking difference from her firebrand politics.

Amid Greene and Trump’s growing rift ahead of key 2026 midterm elections, Trump has withdrawn his support for Greene, calling her “wacky,” a “ranting Lunatic” and a “traitor” to the party in recent social media posts.

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During the interview on CNN’s “State of The Union” with Dana Bash on Sunday, Greene said Trump calling her a traitor “is so extremely wrong.”

“Those were the types of words used that can radicalize people against me and put my life in danger,” Greene said.

CNN’s Bash pointed out that Greene has not defended other people who have faced “attacks or criticism” from Trump. “I haven’t heard you speak up about it until it was directed at you,” Bash said.

“Dana, I think that’s fair criticism,” Greene replies. “And I would like to say humbly, I’m sorry for taking part in the toxic politics. It’s very bad for our country. It’s been something I’ve thought about a lot, especially since Charlie Kirk was assassinated.“

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Later, Bash brings up two specific examples of the far-right Republican’s past incendiary rhetoric against her fellow politicians.

In 2020, Greene posted an image of herself holding a gun alongside images of progressive Democratic congresswomen –– Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib –– and encouraged going on the “offense against these socialists.” The image got taken down by Facebook for violating its policies.

In 2021, Greene liked social media posts that suggested executing then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and FBI agents, among others, according to several media reports. (In response to those 2021 reports, Greene said in a statement: “Over the years, I’ve had teams of people manage my pages. Many posts have been liked. Many posts have been shared. Some did not represent my views.”)

“I addressed that back in 2021. I never want to cause any harm, or anything bad to anyone,” Greene said in response to Bash’s examples. “And I very much stand by my words I said then, and I stand by my words today. I think America needs to come together and end all that toxic, dangerous rhetoric and divide. And I’m leading the way with my own example. ”

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In an apology, the delivery and the tone can reveal just as much, if not more, than the words. And body language experts said they are noticing a mismatch between what Greene is saying and how she said it.

Greene’s body language is different from how genuine apologies typically go, experts say.

Greene has made viral insults in the past toward other politicians, but in this interview, Greene is toned down in volume and in her rhetoric, experts noted.

“That incredibly flat affect we saw in the CNN interview is just so bizarre, especially compared to her usual animated and bombastic affect in other interviews,” said Denise Dudley, a clinical psychologist and behavioral expert.
“She was definitely struggling to rein it in.”

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For body language experts, the most noticeable exchange is when Greene actually says, “Humbly, I’m sorry for taking part in the toxic politics.”

In this sentence, Dudley said Greene has pauses, closes her eyes, and appears to grimace in between the word “toxic” and “politics,” “like she’s choking it down.”

“I think it’s not a sincere sentiment,” Dudley said.

In general, “When we see someone being stiff and wooden, and saying things in very measured form, where we’re pausing a lot, saying, ‘um’ a lot…it’s generally when someone is struggling to put forth an opinion or an attitude or an emotion that they don’t really embrace,” Dudley said, noting that the overall interview indicates “this is just someone under great strain to present a whole different way of being, and that it’s not a natural thing.”

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Meanwhile, another body language expert said to notice how Greene’s mouth moves.

“When we have genuine sadness…the lip corner depresses. [Our lips] pull down, and that’s a really hard thing to fake. That’s how often you can see authentic sadness,” said behavioral scientist Abbie Maroño. “And when she says, ‘Humbly, I’m sorry,’ that’s where you would expect that kind of expression, but there’s no change. So it’s what we’re not seeing that is the concern.”

“It’s something that she should be feeling as she speaks it. And there’s no evidence of that,” Maroño continued.

The body language experts noted that Greene’s minimal movement of her body and hands is also notable during her apology. When someone is confident and at ease with their words, “There is more of a controlled nature, but it still flows, Maroño said. “There was such a lack of movement, it felt contained, it didn’t feel at ease.”

Beyond the tone, Dudley pointed out that the language of the apology could be stronger as well. When Greene says sorry for “taking part” in toxic politics, “she’s assigned herself the safety of a group, like we’re all doing this, rather than personal responsibility.”

A stronger apology that takes ownership for past actions would directly say, “I’d like to humbly apologize for the part I played,” Dudley said, and would address specific allegations she has made that were toxic.

And yet, her apology did land with some people. Several viewers were giving Greene props for her interview online, regardless of the delivery.

“MTG making sense in 2025 was not on anyone’s bingo cards. Wow!” states one top YouTube comment in response to CNN’s video of the interview.

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