House Speaker Mike Johnson faced criticism from fellow House Republicans over his proposed U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and other allies. Despite calls for him to resign, Johnson remained defiant, referring to himself as a “wartime speaker” and vowing to press forward with the aid package even if it meant relying on Democrats to pass it. This shift in tone came at a crucial time as Johnson tries to secure the votes needed to send the stalled national security aid to passage.
Johnson’s meeting with former President Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago appeared to embolden him, with Trump offering his support. The speaker also spoke with President Joe Biden and other congressional leaders about the aid package, which he plans to break into separate votes for each section before stitching it back together for the president’s signature. This approach will require bipartisan support and different factions of House Republicans and Democrats on each measure.
However, Johnson’s strategy has angered some House Republicans, who believe their top priority of increasing security at the U.S.-Mexico border is being sidelined. Rep. Debbie Lesko described a morning meeting as an “argument fest,” with concerns raised about the speaker losing support for the plan. Despite the pushback, Johnson remained undeterred in his efforts to move forward with the aid package, even as some questioned whether he would be able to proceed with voting this week as planned.
The threat of ouster loomed as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a motion to remove Johnson from office in a snap vote, citing the need for a new speaker to prioritize the Republican agenda. While Greene has not specified when she will force the issue, Rep. Thomas Massie suggested that Johnson should step aside to avoid a potential vote to oust him. Johnson argued that Republicans had a choice to either pass the aid package as proposed or risk a discharge petition from Democrats that would force a vote on their preferred Senate-approved measure, leaving behind the Republican priorities.
As tensions within the House Republican Conference continued to escalate, Johnson remained resolute in his commitment to seeing the aid package through, indicating that he would not resign despite the challenges he faced from within his own party. The coming days will be crucial as Johnson attempts to navigate the complex political landscape and secure the necessary support to pass the aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and other allies. The outcome of this internal struggle within the Republican Party could have far-reaching implications for the future direction of legislative priorities and leadership within the House of Representatives.
