The House reconvenes on Tuesday following a two-week Easter recess, with Speaker Mike Johnson facing a potential challenge to his speakership. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has filed a motion to remove him from his position, despite Johnson only recently assuming the role.
In a strategic move, the Georgia Republican filed a motion to remove Johnson from his position just before the chamber took a recess. This maneuver came after a crucial vote to secure funding for the government and prevent a shutdown, a vote in which Johnson relied on Democratic support to pass.
According to Greene, she referred to her motion to vacate as a “warning,” emphasizing the need for the conference to select a new speaker.
Over the past few weeks, Greene has intensified her criticism of Johnson, claiming that he has been collaborating with Democrats and deviating from Republican principles in terms of providing assistance to Ukraine.
She labeled him as a “Democratic Speaker” on Monday due to his tendency to rely on Democrats to get legislation passed.
“Our Republican Speaker of the House has been causing dissatisfaction among our members by collaborating with Democrats to pass significant bills and consistently giving them everything they desire,” Greene expressed on X. “This approach effectively transforms him into the Democrat Speaker of the House, rather than serving as our Republican Speaker of the House.”
In a recent statement, Greene expressed her observation that Johnson has undergone a transformation. She noted that he is now collaborating more frequently with Democrats compared to his previous alignment with Republicans.
During an interview on Tucker Carlson’s program on April 3, Marjorie Taylor Greene expressed her observations about Mike Johnson, who underwent a significant transformation in just five months since becoming the Speaker of the House. Greene highlighted that Johnson, despite identifying as a conservative and being a Republican representative, seemed to deviate from his conservative principles. She pointed out the contradiction and expressed her concerns about the situation.
According to her, Johnson has completely changed his identity and principles.
“People are even questioning if he is being blackmailed or if there is something wrong with him because he seems completely out of touch with our desires,”
When Tucker Carlson asked Greene if she believed that Johnson was being blackmailed, she replied, “I honestly have no clue, Tucker. It’s something I just can’t wrap my head around.”
The ousting of Johnson’s predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, was a result of relying on Democrats’ votes. McCarthy’s removal from the post occurred after Republican hard-liners expressed their dissatisfaction with his collaboration with Democrats in passing various legislations, including a last-minute agreement to keep the government open last fall.
Johnson has been in the position since October.
According to Johnson, he considers Greene to be a close friend, and he shares her frustration regarding the GOP’s slim majority and their dependence on Democrats.
In a recent interview on Fox News, Johnson acknowledged that with the narrowest margin in U.S. history, it is inevitable to see some legislation that may not be favored. He emphasized that the Democrats are well aware of this and take advantage of any disunity among the Republicans to strengthen their negotiation position, which explains why there are certain aspects of the legislation that the Republicans did not approve of.
Greene has issued a threat, stating that she will actively work towards removing Johnson from his position as Speaker if he brings Ukraine aid to the floor. On the other hand, Johnson has made a commitment to take action on Ukraine aid as soon as the House reconvenes, considering the ongoing conflict with Russia.
During his interview with Fox News, Johnson expressed his anticipation of advancing a comprehensive aid package for Ukraine upon the House’s return. He emphasized the inclusion of “important innovations” in this package. However, the speaker’s office has not disclosed a specific timeline for the introduction of any supplemental measures.
According to Johnson, the focus has been on building consensus for the supplemental. Extensive discussions have taken place with all the members, particularly during the district work period. After this work period, a new and innovative product will be introduced.
Republicans are considering the proposal put forth by former President Donald Trump, which suggests providing aid to Ukraine in the form of a loan that can be waived without any interest.
The Biden administration recently halted the approval of new liquefied natural gas export permits to assess their climate impacts. This move was celebrated by climate advocacy groups and local activists who had lobbied for the blocking of new fossil fuel infrastructure. However, Prime Minister Johnson criticized the decision, deeming it “outrageous” and claiming that it hinders America’s economic growth.
In February, the Senate approved a $95 billion aid bill for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. However, Johnson has chosen not to consider the legislation and it is unlikely that he will do so.
The timeline for Greene’s resolution to remove Johnson from office remains uncertain. If she does proceed with the resolution, the House would be required to vote on it within two legislative days.
The conversation between the two individuals was scheduled to take place last Friday, but no information regarding the specifics of that discussion has been released to the public.
