House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) joined Jesse Watters on Wednesday to push for passage of the massive foreign aid package recently passed by both chambers and immigration reform with a Democratic Senate and President Biden in office. discussed the challenges facing the Republican Party.
“Listen, we’re dealing with the smallest majority in American history. We’re one vote away,” Johnson said Wednesday on “Jesse Watters Prime Time.” . “Some people are angry that there was no border in the foreign aid bill. That’s why we fought to the end. We fought for the border every day.”
Watters pushed back against the speaker, saying Republicans are frustrated that despite their majority in the House, they are not getting what they want: increased border security.
“Well, that’s not true. We don’t have a functioning majority,” Johnson countered. “He can only lose one vote, and if one person thinks differently, we won’t.”
Johnson said Republicans would not cooperate, but did not specifically name Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who has threatened to remove Johnson from her leadership position.
“We’re trying to keep the Republican Party working together, getting better policies, better processes, getting things done, but the very individualistic, individualistic Republicans are coming together as a bloc. If you don’t want to do that, it’s very difficult,” Johnson said.
The Republican caucus gives vastly different answers about who is to blame for the shrinking majority, depending on who is asked. The pointed finger highlights the deep rift hurting House Republicans, with conservatives criticizing moderates and moderates criticizing conservatives.
Johnson likened the situation to a football game. He said some people want him to do a Hail Mary pass “on every play,” but that’s not a “game-winning strategy.”
“Now, when you have this margin, three yards and a dust-up, right? Get the next first down, put points on the board, get to November, get the bulk back and grow.”
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