Trump-Backed Rep. Mark Green Cancels Retirement
After announcing his retirement earlier this month, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) has apparently changed his mind and decided to remain in Congress in response to encouragement from several Republican allies.
On Feb. 14, Green announced that he would not be running for reelection — declaring that he had accomplished his goals and felt that there were “other fights for me to get into” outside of Congress.
The Homeland Security Committee chairman pointed to the successful House vote to impeach Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as one of those accomplished goals, along with the passage of HR2, Republicans’ border security bill.
Initial reports claimed that Green was interested in launching a campaign for the governor’s office in Tennessee.
However, Green has apparently changed his mind about leaving Congress after conversations with several Republican allies, including former president and current GOP primary frontrunner Donald Trump.
Green explained the decision in a statement released on Thursday.
“While my strong desire was to leave Congress at the end of this year, since my announcement, I have received countless calls from constituents, colleagues, and President Trump urging me to reconsider,” he wrote.
The former Army officer went on to note that he was “reminded of the words of Gen. McArthur on a statue at West Point: ‘Duty, honor, country.’ I realized once again: I had a duty to my country to fulfill.”
Green’s change of heart followed a post from Trump on Truth Social, where the Republican frontrunner praised Green and declared that he would endorse him if he sought reelection.
“Mark Green has had lots of options because of his political talents, and the great job he has done as a Congressman, but given the fantastic work he’s doing as Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, I hope he runs for Re-Election to the U.S. House of Representatives. If he does, he has my Complete and Total Endorsement!” Trump wrote.
Meanwhile, many other Republican members of Congress have decided not to seek reelection, including Financial Services Chairman Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), Appropriations Chairwoman Rep. Kay Granger, (R-TX), Energy and Commerce Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
Conservatives on social media have celebrated many of these retirements — listing them as victories for the America First movement, alongside the ouster of disgraced former Reps. Liz Cheney (R-WY) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), as well as outgoing RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who is staying in office but retiring from leadership.
