With the 2028 presidential race already on the horizon, two of the GOP’s most recognizable figures are gearing up for their own bids — but their approaches couldn’t be more different. Marjorie Taylor Greene is the chaos agent, igniting controversy with wild conspiracies and bombastic rhetoric, while Ted Cruz is the calculating operative, quietly crafting a measured strategy to position himself as the intellectual leader of the party’s next chapter.
Marjorie Taylor Greene has built her political brand on chaos — pushing conspiracy theories, making incendiary claims, and ruffling feathers wherever she goes. Now, she appears ready to turn that disruptive energy into a 2028 presidential bid. A recent profile in The New York Times hints at her attempts to build a broader platform, but insiders and analysts alike see her campaign as a long shot.
Amanda Marcotte of Salon sums up the reality bluntly: “Voters of both parties loathe most of their leadership right now, with one glaring exception: Republicans still love Donald Trump.” Greene’s bid is essentially a gamble on Trump’s eventual exit, aiming to capture the unruly MAGA faithful hungry for a new standard-bearer.
Her tactics? Provocative and polarizing. She’s called for releasing the Epstein files, described Israel’s war in Gaza as a “genocide,” and condemned AI — all moves designed to shock, energize, and stand out. Marcotte explains, “Greene wants to release the Epstein files, which doesn’t just carry the benefit of aligning with the majority of Americans; it also makes her look like she’s willing to stand up to Trump.”
But chaos comes at a cost. Greene’s deep ties to conspiracy theories and incendiary rhetoric alienate mainstream voters. More tellingly, she faces a gender bias that white male politicians don’t: “White men get away with this stuff because they enjoy a presumption of intelligence and authority that isn’t extended to women,” Marcotte notes. “When Greene makes outlandish claims and statements… people recognize it for what it is.”
The polling tells the story. In Georgia, a crucial swing state, Greene abandoned plans to challenge Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff after an internal GOP poll showed her trailing by 18 points. Her chaotic approach simply won’t translate to a broad electorate.
Ted Cruz: The Calculating Operative
If Greene is the party’s chaos agent, Ted Cruz is its conniving operative. Far from the loud theatrics, Cruz is quietly laying the groundwork for a 2028 presidential campaign, carefully distancing himself from Trump on select issues while maintaining core GOP support.
GOP strategists see Cruz as a savvy political operator positioning himself for the post-Trump era. Vin Weber, a former congressman and GOP strategist, told The Telegraph that Cruz’s recent stances — some at odds with Trump — “will age very well within the Republican Party.”
A recent example: Cruz publicly opposed Trump administration threats to cancel late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s show, a move that cost him some MAGA fans but earned respect from Republicans craving a steadier hand.
Brendan Steinhauser, a GOP strategist from Texas, acknowledges the uncertainty of the race but highlights Cruz’s strategic positioning: “We’re a long way from that cycle. Anything can happen.”
Cruz’s history with Trump is well-known. Their 2016 battle was brutal, with Trump labeling Cruz “lyin’ Ted” and mocking his wife, while Cruz called Trump a “sniveling coward.” But since Trump’s election, Cruz has been a loyal defender — until now, when he’s subtly carving out his own path.
“He’s really perceived as a very powerful intellectual leader on the Right,” Weber said. “That may become more important going forward as we redefine what it is the Republican Party means in the post-Trump era.”
