Topline

Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is abandoning her plan to launch a right-wing congressional group dubbed the America First Caucus after the publication of a seven-page platform vowing to protect “Anglo-Saxon political traditions” by congressional newsletter Punchbowl News, her spokesperson told Forbes.

Key Facts

“She’s not planning on launching it at this time,” the spokesperson said, adding that it was “in the early planning stages” but that the publication of the document by Punchbowl “[blew] it all up.”

Greene spokesperson Nick Dyer had told Forbes earlier Saturday the platform was “never approved or agreed to by Congresswoman Greene,” with Greene calling it a “staff level draft proposal from an outside group that I hadn’t read” in a subsequent statement.

Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), who was reported to be planning the group with Greene, claimed in a statement to have first learned of the platform “by reading about it in the news yesterday, like everyone else,” adding, “Let me be perfectly clear, I did not author this paper.”

Gosar also suggested he wouldn’t be joining a splinter group, vowing to “continue to work on America First issues in the House Freedom Caucus,” an established right-wing caucus that has reacted negatively to the emergence of a new group.

The statements come amid the backdrop of widespread condemnation of the platform by Republicans, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, GOP Conference chair Liz Cheney and Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), a member of the Freedom Caucus.

Forbes has reached out to spokespeople for Gosar and Greene for further comment.

Tangent

Members of Congress in both parties interpreted the platform’s references to “Anglo-Saxon political traditions” and “the progeny of European architecture” as coded white supremacist language. “The Republican Party is the party of Lincoln & the party of more opportunity for all Americans—not nativist dog whistles,” tweeted McCarthy.

Key Background

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) told Forbes on Friday that the America First Caucus was a real group Greene had founded and said he was “looking” at joining – though he added that he “hadn’t seen” the platform. He defended the idea of the group and argued it is “not supposed to be about race at all.”

Chief Critic

“I believe anyone that joins this caucus should have their committees stripped, and the Republican conference should expel them from conference participation,” tweeted Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), a vocal critic of the GOP’s hard-right elements. “While we can’t prevent someone from calling themselves Republican, we can loudly say they don’t belong to us.”

What To Watch For

While Gosar suggested he will not be joining the America First Caucus, Greene appeared to leave open the possibility of a right-wing splinter group. “I have plans to drive President Trump’s America First agenda with my Congressional colleagues,” she said, adding, “America First policies will save this country.”