Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., has called for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to resign after the House passed bills approving billions in aid for Ukraine and Israel. While Greene’s motion to vacate has gained some support, including from Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., many of her Republican colleagues have not joined her effort. After the vote passed on Saturday, Massie criticized the bill as “total capitulation” with no victory for securing the border. Both Greene and Massie continued their attacks on Johnson, with Greene claiming Republicans will lose control of the House in 2025 with Johnson at the helm.
Johnson has dismissed Greene’s motion to vacate as “absurd” and has received praise for his leadership and work with Democrats to pass the foreign aid packages. Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, praised Johnson’s transformation and work with both parties, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for the decision made by the House of Representatives and Johnson. Despite Greene’s criticism, other Republicans have applauded Johnson’s leadership and ability to work across the aisle.
The House passed two separate foreign aid bills on Saturday, approving billions in aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other allies in the Pacific. Only a small number of Republicans voted against the bills, including Greene, Massie, and Gosar, who joined progressive Democrats in opposing the Israel funding bill. The bills will now go before the Senate before heading to President Biden’s desk, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer promising to hold a vote on the bills next week.
The House Freedom Caucus, which previously led the effort to remove former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, has not supported Greene’s motion to remove Johnson. Greene, a former member of the caucus who was ejected in July, did not vote to remove McCarthy. The lack of support from key colleagues in the Freedom Caucus highlights the divisions within the Republican Party over working with Democrats on key legislation. The Senate is set to vote on the foreign aid bills next week, with potential implications for future cooperation between parties in Congress.
Going forward, it will be important to watch how the Senate responds to the foreign aid bills and the potential impact on future bipartisan efforts in Congress. While Greene’s motion to vacate has caused some controversy within the Republican Party, the lack of widespread support from her colleagues suggests that Johnson’s leadership may remain intact. The contrasting views within the party highlight the ongoing challenges of unity and cooperation in Congress, especially on critical issues such as foreign aid and national security.
