Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene acknowledged on Sunday that her party is feeling a sense of desperation when it comes to the future of House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Louisiana Republican Johnson took over as the House speaker in late October after Kevin McCarthy was ousted. McCarthy, a California Republican and experienced member of Congress, became the first speaker in U.S. history to be removed from the role during a legislative session. This came after GOP Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida filed a motion to remove him for collaborating with Democrats to pass a temporary resolution and prevent a government shutdown.
After Representatives Jim Jordan of Ohio and Steve Scalise of Louisiana failed to gather sufficient support from the divided Republican caucus, Johnson, a relatively unknown House GOP member, assumed the position of speaker. While he has managed to hold onto the role for a few months, his performance has drawn growing criticism from within the Republican Party. Politico’s Sunday report reveals whispers questioning whether Johnson can maintain his position beyond 2024, if he even manages to reach that point.
One of the most vocal critics of Johnson is Greene, who has warned that she will take action to remove him from office if he does not comply with the demands of herself and other staunch conservative members of the House GOP. Their main point of contention is the provision of additional aid to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Greene argues that this money should be redirected towards domestic matters, such as enhancing security at the U.S.-Mexico border to address the increasing number of migrants entering the country.
In an article published on Sunday, the congresswoman acknowledged to Politico that Johnson’s continued speakership is primarily due to the GOP’s desperation, despite his tenuous position within the party.
According to Greene, she expresses concern about the safety of the individual in question at the present moment. She further elaborates that the individual currently holds the position of speaker due to the desperate circumstances of their conference.
Johnson’s office was contacted by Newsweek via email for comment.
During an interview on CNN’s The Source, host Kaitlan Collins asked Johnson about Greene’s recent threats to his speakership. Johnson confidently stated that he was not concerned about the threats.
Johnson firmly stated that he had a job to fulfill and emphasized the importance of everyone carrying out their respective duties. He acknowledged Marjorie Taylor Greene’s concern regarding the insufficient oversight of funding and the absence of a well-defined plan, expressing his own agreement with her sentiments.
In response to Greene’s vow to vote against any funding bill that includes aid to Ukraine, he acknowledged, “I understand. I’ve had extensive personal conversations with her regarding this matter, and she has made her stance very clear. It is our responsibility to fulfill our duties and ensure that we address all the necessary aspects of this situation. The outcome of this will unfold in due course.”
Uncommon Knowledge
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