Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has been threatening to force a referendum on House Speaker Mike Johnson, but has decided to wait until next week to allow for preparation time. Despite knowing that her motion will likely fail, Greene wants to force a vote so that voters can see Democrats backing Johnson, whom she believes is controlled by Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. Johnson, however, has made it clear that Greene’s demands would only result in gridlock and not victories for Republicans, as Democrats have control over the Senate and White House.
Greene’s Republican colleagues have shown little support for her stand against Johnson, with only two lawmakers publicly backing her. Many Republicans are tired of her antics, with one lawmaker stating that there isn’t enough will among the conference to take such drastic action. Republicans have a history of removing speakers who allow bipartisan votes, but finding an alternative to Johnson may prove to be difficult given the lack of clear options.
Recent bipartisan bills, such as a spying authority known as Section 702 and a funding bill for Ukraine, have passed with overwhelming support from both parties. Despite Greene’s opposition, these bills received broad bipartisan backing in the House. Even Trump has backed Johnson, leading to questions about why Greene is working against the apparent preference of her leader. Greene, however, remains steadfast in her support for Trump and his agenda, stating that she is fighting against her own Republican conference in order to fight harder against the Democrats.
Greene has garnered attention with her threats against Johnson, with more reporters chasing her across Capitol grounds than usual. She has portrayed her hesitation as a responsible move, emphasizing that she has given warnings and allowed time for the process to unfold. While Greene may not have enough support to oust Johnson, she appears focused on making a statement and forcing a vote to highlight the Democratic backing of the current House Speaker. The situation highlights the internal divisions within the Republican Party and the challenges of finding a suitable replacement for Johnson.
