GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announced her intention to trigger a motion to vacate against House Speaker Mike Johnson, forcing members to put their position on the record. This move comes after Democrats said they would vote to kill the effort and ensure Johnson does not lose his job. Greene emphasized the need for every member of Congress to take a vote and let the chips fall where they may, expressing excitement for Democrats to support a Republican speaker.
Greene originally filed the motion to oust Johnson in March due to conservative anger over his handling of government funding. A floor vote to oust Johnson would require a majority to succeed, but it can still be preempted if a motion to table the resolution is offered and voted on first. This would only require a simple majority to succeed. After Johnson passed a foreign aid package that included support for Ukraine, House Democratic leadership announced they would vote to table Greene’s motion to oust him.
Greene criticized Johnson for his support for Ukraine aid and denounced House Democrats for announcing they would help Johnson keep his job by voting to kill her effort against him. She expressed disappointment in not triggering the motion earlier due to feeling controlled and responsible, stating that her warning to Johnson had gone unheeded. Greene used imagery during the news conference, putting a “Make Ukraine Great Again” hat on a photo of Johnson and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries.
The move to force a vote against Johnson comes after GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz similarly moved against then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year. Gaetz triggered a vote that ousted McCarthy, causing chaos and turmoil among House Republicans as they struggled to elect a new speaker. This story is ongoing and will be updated as more information becomes available. Greene’s action highlights the internal divisions within the Republican Party and the ongoing power struggles among party members in Congress.
