House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana is facing a potential threat to his position as some hard-right Republicans are looking to remove him over his push to pass aid packages for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced a “motion to vacate” against Johnson last month, accusing him of funding foreign wars while not pushing for the impeachment of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Despite these threats, it is unclear if the Republicans have enough votes to oust Johnson, as some Democrats may vote to save him.
Greene and Rep. Tom Massie have called on Johnson to resign, but he has refused, calling the removal threat “absurd” and labeling himself a “wartime speaker.” The slim majority of Republicans in the House means that losing even two votes could cause Johnson to be removed. However, multiple Democrats have indicated openness to voting against ejecting Johnson, with some stating that their support would depend on how he handles the foreign aid package, particularly in breaking through hard-right opposition.
Massie has suggested that more GOP lawmakers may vote to remove Johnson than voted to remove former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October. Johnson has announced plans to introduce legislation for additional funding to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, including aid in the form of loans, as suggested by former President Donald Trump. President Joe Biden and Democrats have urged the House to consider the aid package passed by the Senate, but the split package proposed by Johnson may appeal to hard-right detractors.
In a joint news conference with Trump, Johnson received support from the former president, who stated that he gets along well with both Johnson and Greene. Following McCarthy’s ouster, Johnson was elected speaker after a historic three-week impasse in GOP leadership. Johnson inherited a divided GOP conference facing challenges from hard-right members leveraging their power to block bipartisan legislation. This situation has led to ongoing tensions within the party and increased pressure on Johnson to navigate these challenges.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether Johnson will be able to maintain his position as House Speaker amidst growing threats from within his party. The outcome may hinge on the delicate balance of votes from both Republicans and Democrats, as well as Johnson’s ability to navigate the foreign aid package and address the concerns of hard-right members. The ongoing infighting within the GOP underscores the deep divisions within the party and the challenges facing leadership in a closely divided Congress.
