Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is confidently pushing ahead with her endeavor to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson, as she unabashedly proclaims that her fellow representatives will soon find themselves faced with a decision: “MAGA” or “MUGA.”
On Wednesday, the fiery Georgia conservative, joined by her colleague Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, announced her plan to initiate a privileged motion next week. This motion would prompt an automatic vote within 48 hours regarding Johnson’s removal.
During a press conference, Ms. Greene emphasized the importance of every member of Congress casting their vote and accepting the consequences that may follow.
After House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar expressed their intention to vote on a motion to table Ms. Greene’s motion, she confirmed that she would proceed with the vote.
Ms. Greene and Mr. Massie expressed their disapproval of Mr. Johnson’s dependence on Democrats to pass various bills and legislation, including spending bills, surveillance reauthorization, and aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. They strongly criticized the collaboration between Mr. Johnson and Mr. Jeffries, referring to it as the embodiment of the “uniparty.”
Rep Greene showcased a hat with the phrase “MUGA.”
“The idea of the ‘Make Ukraine Great Again’ campaign is essentially the uniparty’s approach,” she expressed. “Their belief is centered around allocating funds for every foreign conflict. They firmly believe that this is the necessary business model to pursue.”
In response to Greene’s motion to vacate, Mr. Johnson expressed his criticism.
He expressed his strong opposition to the motion, stating that it was not only detrimental to the Republican Conference but also to the institution as a whole. Furthermore, he emphasized that such a motion would be harmful to the country as well.
Several Republican House members, including those who previously supported the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, expressed their reluctance to oust Mr. Johnson. They believe that either the legislation will not pass, or it could result in Mr. Jeffries assuming the role of speaker.
Mr. Massie, on the other hand, dismissed those concerns.
According to Mr. Massie, the actions of the uniparty have been quite evident. He believes that next week’s vote will make it clear to all Americans that many of their colleagues have experienced frustration and apathy.
Despite former president Donald Trump’s defense of Mr. Johnson, including their appearance together at Mar-a-Lago after Ms. Greene filed a motion to vacate, she remains determined to proceed with the vote.
“I proudly wear this MAGA hat because I am a staunch supporter of President Trump,” she stated. “Every day, I actively champion his agenda, which is why I find myself opposing my own Republican conference.”
In particular, Ms. Greene highlighted that Mr. Johnson approved a spending bill that provided full funding to the Department of Justice and authorized the construction of a new office building for the FBI in Maryland. This decision was made despite the fact that the agency had conducted a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago in 2022, related to Mr. Trump’s handling of classified documents, and the ongoing investigation by Special Counsel Jack Smith into Mr. Trump.
According to Ms. Greene, if the motion to vacate is blocked, she does not view it as a failure.
“It’s a victory for the American people,” she exclaimed, emphasizing the significance of the list of names. “I strongly advocate for recorded votes as it is our duty to fulfill.”
