House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that he plans to seek reelection as Speaker in the next Congress, denying that he was in negotiations with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to retain his position. He emphasized that his discussions with Greene and other members were not negotiations but simply part of how he operates as Speaker, having regular detailed discussions with members of the conference. Greene laid out four demands for Johnson to accept, including abiding by the Hastert Rule, cutting off funding to Ukraine, defunding special counsel Jack Smith’s office, and passing 12 individual appropriation bills to fund the government by Sept. 30.
The issue seemed to stem from a recent vote on a $61 billion military assistance package for Ukraine, which passed with 101 Republican “yeas” and 112 GOP “nays.” Greene’s threat to pursue a motion to vacate Johnson’s position had been looming since March, and the recent Ukraine aid vote appeared to be the tipping point. Greene’s demands, particularly regarding Ukraine funding, could cause tension with House Democrats who have sought to support Johnson due to the vote on Ukraine aid. Despite the potential backlash, Greene stood firm on her demands and insisted that they be met without compromise.
Greene’s demands also included cutting off funding to Ukraine, defunding special counsel Jack Smith’s office, and passing 12 separate appropriation bills to fund the government by Sept. 30. Greene stated that there would be a 1% spending cut if the appropriation bills were not passed individually. Despite potential pushback and threats from other members, Greene maintained her stance, with the backing of Reps. Massie and Gosar if she decided to move forward with a motion to vacate. Former President Donald Trump, who had a call with Greene over the weekend, urged her to stand down against Johnson, but Greene remained steadfast in her position.
Greene expressed that there were discussions of consequences and retaliation against her for her actions, including potentially losing committee assignments and facing a primary challenge. However, she dismissed any notion of problems between her and Trump, stating that she fights for him harder than anyone in Washington, D.C. Despite the ongoing discussions and possible motion to vacate, Johnson remained resolute in his intention to lead the conference in the future and focus on maintaining and growing the House majority in the upcoming November elections. The situation highlighted the internal dynamics and conflicts within the Republican party as different factions and individuals vied for power and control within the House of Representatives.
