House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene have been locked in a standoff over Greene’s threat to call for a vote to oust Johnson. Greene, a far-right ally of Donald Trump, has outlined four demands, including no more funding for Ukraine and an end to legal cases against Trump by the Justice Department. Johnson has been portrayed as in control of the situation, but the threat of removal continues to loom over him as he considers concessions to the far-right forces to keep members satisfied.
Though Johnson insists that the meetings with Greene are not negotiations, the possibility of a vote to remove him persists. Greene has expressed high expectations that the speaker will address her demands and hold the vote, and Rep. Thomas Massie has warned Johnson against dragging out the decision. Former President Trump has supported Johnson and criticized the effort to oust him, which has failed to gain traction among Republicans. Despite this, Greene’s demands align with popular opinions among Republicans and could prove difficult for Johnson to ignore.
Johnson has criticized the Justice Department’s cases against Trump as election interference and has hinted at considering the flow of federal funds to the department. Greene is also demanding that Johnson follow the Hastert rule, which requires majority support from members before proceeding with voting on bills. This demand could impact congressional support for Ukraine, as the recent foreign aid package did not have backing from most Republicans. Greene is also advocating for federal spending reductions championed by Massie, which would require across-the-board cuts if appropriation bills are not passed by the fiscal year deadline.
Some Republicans are wary of Johnson making deals with a select few members, as they fear the exclusion of their own interests. Johnson is working to demonstrate that he is in control of the House and not beholden to Democrats, who have provided crucial votes on significant issues in this Congress. Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries has emerged as an empowered speaker-in-waiting should Democrats win party control in November. Jeffries and his team have pledged to vote to table Greene’s motion, effectively saving Johnson’s job. The outcome of the standoff between Johnson and Greene remains uncertain as negotiations continue.
