Hardline Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene attempted to oust Speaker Mike Johnson in a sudden action that was swiftly rejected by both Democrats and Republicans. Greene accused Johnson of weak leadership and called for a vote to vacate his position, but the majority of lawmakers voted to keep Johnson in his job. It was the second time in recent months that Republicans had tried to remove their own speaker, a move that is highly unusual in U.S. history.
Despite pushback from top Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, Greene continued with her motion to vacate the speaker. However, Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise called for a vote to table the motion, which was approved by an overwhelming majority of 359-43. Johnson expressed his intent to continue doing his job and move past the political chaos caused by the attempt to remove him from his position.
Greene had previously threatened to force a vote on the motion if Johnson advanced a foreign aid package that included funds for Ukraine, but in the days leading up to the vote, it appeared that a resolution had been reached between the two parties. Johnson explained that he wanted to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and be on the right side of history by approving the aid package.
In a surprising turn of events, Democrats led by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries supported the move to table Greene’s resolution, citing a commitment to solving problems and moving past the GOP turmoil. Even Trump urged Republicans to table Greene’s motion, emphasizing the importance of focusing on defeating Democrats in the November election. Despite Greene’s efforts, the vote showed the strength and weakness of her attempt to remove the speaker.
The political risks posed by Greene’s failed attempt to oust the speaker could have lasting consequences for her. By forcing her colleagues to take a public stand on the issue, Greene put them in a politically uncomfortable position of choosing sides. Without support from Democrats, the vote to remove Johnson could have ended differently, given the slim majority held by Republicans in the House.
Last year, the House faced a similar situation when Republicans attempted to oust Kevin McCarthy from the speaker’s office, resulting in turmoil and a leadership vacuum. The move to remove McCarthy was the first such removal of a House speaker in U.S. history. Despite the challenges faced by Johnson and the Republican Party, the vote to table Greene’s motion ultimately allowed him to stay in his position as speaker of the House.
