Marjorie Taylor Greene has called New York a “terrible place” after she had to leave Donald Trump’s arraignment rally following counter-protests.
In an interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson, the Georgia Republican representative said New York smelled bad and compared it to Gotham City, a fictional town in the Batman comics and films.
Carlson asked Ms Greene: “Mayor (Eric) Adams described New York as his home. How did his home look? Pretty neat and tidy?”
Ms Greene responded: “No, his home is disgusting. I compare it to what I called Gotham City.
“The streets are filthy, they are covered with people, basically dying on drugs, they can’t even stand up – they’re falling over. There’s so much crime in the city, I cannot comprehend how people live there.”
She added: “It was repulsive, it smells bad – I think it’s a terrible place.”
Critics responding to Ms Greene’s comments on Twitter were quick to note likely bias after her “embarrassing” appearance at a rally against former president Donald Trump’s arraignment.
Ms Greene headlined a rally at a small park near the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on Tuesday, joined by the New York Young Republicans – a group with ties to embattled Congressman George Santos.
While she attempted to give remarks through a megaphone, Ms Greene was drowned out by counter-protesters with whistles and other loud instruments.
Around the courthouse, police had to separate pro- and anti-Trump demonstrators after clashes broke out between the two groups.
During her brief speech at the rally, Ms Greene attacked New York mayor Eric Adams for sending “your henchmen down here to commit assault against people by making loud noises”.
She urged Americans to “take a stand” during her speech, large parts of which were muffled by the sounds of counter-protesters.
“This is what happens in communist countries – not the United States of America,” she added. “We have to take a stand against the injustice, the corruption, and the communist Democrats,” she said.
The rally was incredibly brief, with Ms Greene leaving quickly to appear on television networks instead.
Viewers sounding off online characterised her departure as being “forced out”.
In response to her Wednesday comments against the city itself, critics said it sounded like a case of sour grapes.
“She’s pissed because New Yorkers kicked her out after 2 1/2 minutes. She was really stinking up the joint,” one wrote.
Another shared a video of Greene being “hounded out”.
