On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) won support from House Democratic leadership. He needs to cash in on his support in the next few days.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) told a packed press conference outside the Capitol on Wednesday that they would push for Greene’s resignation “next week.” It was announced that a vote would be taken.
With their backs against the Capitol dome, Greene and Massey accused Johnson of “triple betrayals”: providing government funding, allowing surveillance of American citizens, and providing money to Ukraine without securing the border. did.
The move has long been expected, but Wednesday’s escalation reveals Mr Johnson’s perilous path to keeping the gavel, if not in the short term, then certainly beyond November.
“This motion is wrong for the Republican conference, wrong for the Republican conference, and wrong for the country,” Johnson said in a brief statement released a day after Johnson accused Greene of not being a serious lawmaker. It is written as follows.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
green explained What were their original hopes when they submitted the motion, and why did they wait more than six weeks to force a vote on the motion? “I was conscious and mindful of the majority conference. It warned me to stop serving the Democratic Party, support the Republican conference, and support our policies. And he did that. did not.”
After Greene made the motion, Johnson cast the deciding vote to scrap the warrant requirement, proceeded to reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and then cut funding to Ukraine.
“Now Hakeem Jeffries and the Democratic Party come out and embrace Mike Johnson with a warm hug and a wet, sloppy kiss,” Greene said, adding that the Democrats’ support for Johnson is due to “Mike Johnson. is giving them everything they want.” all. One thing at a time. ”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries hands the gavel to newly elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on October 25, 2023. (Tom Brenner/AFP via Getty Images)
She complained that Republicans under Johnson had rejected the demands of voters sent to Washington. “We got this house in 2022,” she said. What can we get Republican voters to vote for? ”
Greene said that, just as establishment Republicans did throughout President Trump’s first term, if Johnson continues to preside, the Republicans will not only lose seats in the House, but will also influence future Trump administration policies. I believe that this would jeopardize the
“The Republican establishment under Paul Ryan failed President Trump and failed to deliver on the agenda we set out to accomplish,” she recalled. “We stood up at Trump rally after Trump rally and said, ‘Build the wall,’ and they passed a $1.3 trillion omnibus bill that didn’t fund the wall.”
In one of the press conference’s most memorable moments, Greene accused Johnson of employing a “Washington, D.C., business model that funds forever wars,” adding, “The United Party’s “We will make it great again,” he said.
She pulled out a blue hat with “MUGA” written on the front to contrast with President Trump’s iconic red MAGA hat. “Our economy shouldn’t be built on the blood of wars abroad. That’s not what our economy should be built on. That’s not the way to grow jobs in America.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) speaks at a press conference alongside Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) at the U.S. Capitol in May, calling for “MUGA,” or “Make Ukraine Great Again.” He held up a hat with this written on it and spoke. Washington DC, 1st 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Massey countered that what he called the “Republican establishment” was taking advantage of Jeffries, and that there was no point in forcing a vote because Jeffries would “save Johnson’s bacon.” did.
“We weren’t elected to make excuses,” he said. “We weren’t elected to say we shouldn’t try. We were elected to come here and do our best and impose transparency.”
Massey, too, was not ready to accept the inevitability of the vote outcome.
“The fact is, we’re not going to allow the vote to be rejected,” he said. “I think Mr. Hakeem was afraid that there weren’t enough Democrats to save Mike Johnson, so he had to come forward and get in front of this freight train.”
Greene insisted that no matter the outcome, this vote would be a victory for the American people.
“If this vote fails, and the entire conference…supports a single party, let me tell you this: It’s not a failure. This is a victory for the American people, because it’s a list of names. ”
While many Republicans have balked at the idea of another three weeks of stalemate without a speaker, Greene insisted there are candidates in the conference who will step up.
“I won’t name names, but I think we have talented people,” she said, adding, “Anyone who is willing to fight for our policies will share power with Hakeem Jeffries. He signaled that he would support “anyone who refuses to do so.”
“That’s something we can do. If we decide to do it.”
The House must act on the motion within two days before it can move to invalidate the vote. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to vote immediately to table the motion.
Green and Massey did not say when they would strike. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) is also joining them in their efforts, and the trio is expected to have more on board.
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) (Bill Clark/Pool via AP)
“If anyone is afraid of where they are going to vote on the motion, or if it goes any further, then they are not the right person,” Green said. “They have to be ready to do the hard work.”
Late Wednesday, Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) Said According to CNN, he plans to vote against Greene’s motion, but is undecided on how he will vote on the revocation motion, saying, “I think privileged questions need to be answered.”
Greene and Massey want Johnson to resign before the vote, and Massey is calling on other members of the House Republican leadership to do so in the interest of the party.
“Knowing what’s going to happen next week, he has a right to consider over the weekend whether he should resign,” Massey said.
Bradley Jay is Breitbart News’ Capitol Hill correspondent. Follow him on X/Twitter. @BradleyAJay.
