Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far-right Republican from Georgia, will meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson ahead of her planned motion to depose him over his decision to pass billions of dollars in Ukraine aid. This meeting was requested by Greene and is scheduled for Monday afternoon. Greene has stated her intention to file a motion to vacate the speaker’s chair this week, which would force every House member to take a position on Johnson’s future. This would be the second instance in the past year where a Republican has tried to remove the speaker of their own party, after Rep. Matt Gaetz successfully forced a vote to overthrow then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy to pave the way for Johnson.
Despite Greene’s efforts, Johnson and his allies are expected to defeat the motion, with Democratic leaders indicating that many of their members will support a motion to “table” or kill the vacate motion. Both Greene and Johnson are allies of their party’s presumptive nominee, Donald Trump, but Trump has signaled his support for Johnson. The former president and Johnson have appeared together at Mar-a-Lago and at a recent Trump rally in Pennsylvania. Greene has publicly criticized Johnson, calling him a “Democratic speaker” on social media and suggesting that supporting him would put American fighters at risk in Ukraine. Johnson has stated that he supports aid for Ukraine to prevent the need for sending American fighters into the conflict, a stance also supported by President Joe Biden.
Speaker Johnson has been accused by Greene of being under the control of Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer. Greene’s comments on social media have emphasized the idea that Democrats are effectively governing as if they were the majority, despite having fewer votes than Republicans. Johnson has not directly responded to Greene’s accusations of being influenced by Democratic leaders, but he has emphasized his support for aid to Ukraine as a way to prevent sending American fighters into the conflict. Jeffries, in a recent appearance on “60 Minutes,” acknowledged that Democrats have been able to provide a majority of votes necessary to get things done in Congress, despite being in the minority.
The looming motion to vacate the speaker’s chair has sparked tensions within the Republican Party, with Greene challenging Johnson’s leadership over the issue of Ukraine aid. The outcome of the planned vote remains uncertain, as Johnson and his allies are expected to have enough support to defeat Greene’s motion. The influence of former President Trump in supporting Johnson adds a layer of complexity to the situation, as Trump’s endorsement has the potential to sway Republican lawmakers. Greene’s public criticism of Johnson and accusations of being a “Democratic speaker” reflect broader ideological divisions within the party over foreign aid and intervention. The meeting between Greene and Johnson could shed light on the internal dynamics of the Republican Party as they navigate these issues.
