Greene softens threat to force vote on ousting Speaker Johnson

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is softening her threats against House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), pushing back on conservative priorities before forcing a vote on the resolution. He said he would give the chairman time to demonstrate his commitment. He removed him from his power.

Prime Minister Greene said last week she would “absolutely” push through a motion to rescind the proposal on the floor this week, citing Johnson’s track record of working across the aisle with President Biden on major legislation.

But on Tuesday, after sparring with the speaker for more than three hours over two days, Greene walked back that threat and said she had no intention of bringing the resolution to the floor by the end of the week.

“We’ll see. It’s up to Mike Johnson,” Green said in response to a question about whether he would follow through on his previous ultimatum. “Obviously, things can’t happen instantly. And we all recognize that and understand that. So now the ball is in his court and he’s reaching out to us. It is to be given to me – preferably soon.”

The shift in strategy came after Greene spoke by phone with former President Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, on Sunday. Trump has gone out of his way to show support for the embattled Johnson since Greene first filed her motion to step down more than a month ago. .

One person familiar with the conversation said Mr. Trump urged Ms. Greene to abandon the motion to withdraw the move, and another said she encouraged unity.

Greene did not provide details of her conversation with Trump in response to questions on Tuesday.

“I have to say, I love President Trump. The conversations I had with him were great,” she told reporters. “Again, I won’t go into details. Do you want to know why? I have no qualms about that.”

Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, Georgia Republican lawmakers laid out a series of demands against Johnson and suggested she would withdraw from the removal effort if she adopted them.

The list includes only bills that have the support of a majority of the Republican conference on the floor, a practice known as the Hastert rule. Pledge not to give any additional aid to Ukraine. Defund the special counsel investigating former President Trump, including Jack Smith. If Congress does not complete regular spending procedures by September 30, it will impose a 1% across-the-board spending cut.

“I’m reasonable, I’m patient, I’m not acting on my own behalf, I’m not asking for anything for myself. What I’m trying to do is tell Mike Johnson to become the Republican chairman. It’s about giving him a chance and he seems willing to make it happen.”

Green did not provide a specific timeline for meeting Johnson’s request, but noted it was “pretty short.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson declined to comment on her four demands, telling reporters only that “there are some good proposals and we are looking at some ideas.”

He later added, “As I said, we’re working on a number of ideas and suggestions, as are all members of the council as part of the process here.” “So I’m optimistic that we can come to some kind of solution.”

An unusual meeting between the House speaker and one of the party’s most vocal critics consumed much of the chamber’s air this week.

Lawmakers arrived at the Capitol expecting to have to vote on Greene’s resignation motion, following a pledge to force it to a vote. Instead, they were left guessing whether she would pull the trigger or abandon her efforts altogether. And if it’s the latter, what does she get?

Adding to the confusion, Greene and her allies have not offered a concrete timeline for the new vague ultimatum.

“If it becomes clear that he’s just trying to prolong this issue, we’ll do him a favor, we’ll do you a favor, we’ll do a Republican a favor, and we’ll call this motion to vacate. “Yes,” the lawmaker said. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), one of the two Republican senators supporting Greene’s move, told reporters Tuesday.

I didn’t say when.

From a practical standpoint, Greene’s decision on whether to force a vote is immaterial. Only two other Republicans supported her motion to step down, and a number of Democrats have vowed to rescue Johnson from a removal bid, meaning Johnson would keep the gavel in either case. There is. .

Rep. Pete Aguilar (Calif.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, reiterated Tuesday that “we have said her efforts will not be successful.” “We want to turn the page. We want to forget about this and see what happens in the future.”

But politically, this vote could prove to be of great significance. Mr. Johnson, who hopes to remain the Republican leader in the next Congress, is vulnerable not only to attacks that he was backed by Democrats, but also to Mr. Green, whose ties to Mr. Trump have accelerated his political rise. He also risks alienating the former president. By attacking the Speaker he supports.

Ms Greene’s remarks on Tuesday marked the latest development in the weeks-long turmoil over her resignation motion, which she filed more than a month ago and which has been hanging over Mr Johnson’s head ever since.

Last week, after weeks of concealment, the Georgia Republican revealed the timeline for his ouster plan, telling reporters he would “absolutely” move to force a vote on his removal resolution this week. and made headlines.

But her apparent exit on Tuesday is emblematic of the dynamics that have plagued her threat from the beginning. Conservative Republican and Democratic leaders have all opposed the effort, rendering it dysfunctional once it reaches the floor, with President Trump urging Greene to resign. , which would put her on a collision course with the leaders of her party who helped propel her to national prominence.

“She’s not acting in President Trump’s best interests. I don’t think this is a good move six months before the election,” he said, voting to expel former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). said Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. said in october news nations Interview with “The Hill Sunday”.

He then added, “Let’s focus on expanding our House majority, taking back the Senate, and reelecting President Trump.” “If she were to move forward, there would be a motion to put it on hold. In other words, it would be a vote on whether or not to move forward with a vote to remove the chair, which would probably fail, and whether or not to actually remove the chair. I don’t think there will be a final vote.”

Brett Samuels contributed reporting.Updated at 4:55 p.m.