Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene threatened to trigger a vote to remove Speaker Mike Johnson as House leader, but after meeting with him this week, she appeared to back down from her threat. Greene stated that the ball is in Johnson’s court in terms of timing, and the timeframe for a potential vote is up to him. The Georgia Republican had been considering forcing a vote to overthrow Johnson since March, but following the meetings, she offered few details on her plans, suggesting that tensions may be cooling for now.
During her meetings with Johnson, Greene demanded that he make several promises, including no more aid for Ukraine, only bringing bills to the floor if the majority of Republicans support them, stripping funding for Justice Department investigations into former President Donald Trump, and implementing automatic spending cuts if the 12 appropriations bills are not passed individually. Johnson described the discussions as productive but noted that they were not negotiations. Rep. Thomas Massie and GOP Rep. Paul Gosar are the only Republicans who have publicly supported Greene’s efforts at this point.
Johnson, who leads a divided majority with a one-vote margin, is expected to survive any attempt to remove him from leadership, thanks to Democratic support. Special elections in May and June to fill vacant seats are expected to further solidify the GOP majority. If Greene does eventually trigger a vote, Johnson believes he will remain in power next year. Democrats have indicated that they would thwart any effort to remove him, viewing it more as a move to combat the far-right influence in the House rather than to save Johnson’s position.
The dynamic in the House reflects a growing unwillingness to compromise among conservatives, pushing the chamber into a unique moment where Democrats are willing to help a GOP leader retain power. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has emphasized the importance of preventing extremists from disrupting the functioning of Congress and the country. While the focus remains on the potential vote to remove Johnson, Democrats are taking a stand against allowing far-right factions to cause chaos in the legislative process.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Greene’s threat and the potential vote to remove Johnson, the House leader remains confident in his ability to lead the conference in the future. Johnson expressed optimism about finding a resolution with Greene and others, emphasizing the importance of assessing ideas and making improvements for the benefit of the House as a whole. With support from President Trump and a stronger position due to Democratic backing, Johnson expects to maintain his leadership role moving forward. Additional reporting on the situation is provided by Nikole Killion and Jaala Brown, contributing to the ongoing coverage of this political development.
