House Democratic leaders have stated that they will vote to prevent any attempt by Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson from his position. Greene has been threatening to initiate a procedure to oust Johnson from the speakership, with her claiming that his days as speaker are numbered. The House Democratic leaders, including Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, and Pete Aguilar, have announced that they will vote to table Greene’s motion, ensuring that it will not succeed.
In response to the announcement by the House Democratic leaders, Greene took to social media to declare that Johnson is now the “Democrat Speaker of the House” and accused Johnson of making a “slimy backroom deal” to gain the support of Democrats. Johnson became speaker in October after Republicans removed former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy using the same procedure that Greene is now threatening to use against him. With Republicans holding a slim majority in the House, they can only afford to lose a few votes, making the situation delicate for both parties.
Tabling a motion means suspending consideration of that motion indefinitely, while a motion to vacate the chair can be used by a single member to begin the process of removing the speaker. Greene has criticized Johnson for his work on foreign aid bills benefiting Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as his collaboration with Democrats to secure a $1.2 trillion spending bill to prevent a government shutdown. However, House Democratic leaders praised Johnson’s efforts, stating that his work helped meet national security needs and deliver real results for the American people.
House Democratic leaders highlighted their commitment to putting people over politics and finding common ground with traditional Republicans to achieve bipartisan solutions. They noted that Democrats have been able to push back against extremist elements within the Republican Party while working towards shared goals. The Democrats emphasized their focus on addressing critical security and humanitarian needs, aligning with President Biden’s priorities. By continuing to work across party lines, House Democrats aim to deliver tangible outcomes for the American people, while also combating extremist ideologies within the political landscape.
