Utah's Republican governor hits back at MTG's call to break up the United States: 'This rhetoric is destructive and wrong and—honestly—evil'

• A Republican governor hit back at Marjorie Taylor Greene's call for a "national divorce" in the US.
• Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called Greene's rhetoric "destructive" and "evil."
• This isn't the first time Greene has called for the break up of the US. She did so in December.

When Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called for the breakup of the United States on Presidents' Day, it was met with swift condemnation from her usual political opponents.

But members of her own party also pushed back. Utah's Republican governor called the rhetoric "destructive and wrong and — honestly — evil."

Gov. Spencer Cox said in a tweet that: "We don't need a divorce, we need marriage counseling. And we need elected leaders that don't profit by tearing us apart."

On Monday, Marjorie Taylor Greene had suggested that there should be a "national divorce" - the separation of the US into red and blue states. It's not the first time she has made such comments, but the idea is politically toxic for many.

In follow-up tweets, Cox wrote about the need for civility, kindness, and "healthy conflict" in posts accompanying photos of lawmakers from both political parties working together.

He concluded with the Pledge of Allegiance: "ONE nation, under God with Liberty and Justice for ALL."

—Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) February 20, 2023

Greene has previously called for a "national divorce," tweeting in December that people moving from blue to red states should temporarily be stopped from voting.

But her latest provocative tweet, which bemoaned the "sick and disgusting woke culture issues shoved down our throats," was met with fierce condemnation.

Liz Cheney, formerly a Republican member of Congress, wrote in a tweet: "Secession is unconstitutional. No member of Congress should advocate secession, Marjorie."

Rep. Ted Lieu of California, vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, accused MAGA Republicans, like Greene, of being intent on "dividing Americans."

Meanwhile, Marianne Williamson, a former Democratic candidate for president in 2020, asked her Twitter followers: "Did she just call for Civil War? Does she know what happened the last time a few states said they wanted to leave?"