MTG Announces Vote

After a string of threats, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, called a press conference on Wednesday to announce that she will be forcing a vote next week to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana. This motion comes after weeks of tension between Greene and Johnson, who is currently the most powerful elected Republican in the country. While Greene’s move is unlikely to succeed, it has already caused significant internal tension within the GOP and piqued the interest of House Democrats.

Greene, a second-term lawmaker known for her conservative views, has long been at odds with Johnson, whom she blames for giving Democrats “everything they want.” At the press conference, Greene was flanked by two posters displaying an image of Johnson embracing House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, from when he was first elected speaker last year. She claimed that this is evidence that Johnson has become a “man that none of us recognize” and that he is “ready to support” Democrats.

Johnson, who has been defiant in the face of Greene’s threats, dismissed her statement, saying he has no intention of resigning from his post and calling her a “blessing to heart.” He also stated that the motion was “wrong for the Republican Conference, wrong for the institution, and wrong for the country.” Despite this, Greene maintained that her motion is not personal, but rather about Johnson’s job performance.

The upcoming showdown between Greene and Johnson has caused significant concerns among Republicans as they fear it may reflect poorly on the party in a critical election year. It also raises questions about who could succeed Johnson if the speakership were to become vacant.

Possible candidates could include House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, or House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, all of whom sought the job last year. However, there is no clear consensus on who would be able to earn the necessary support from Republicans to become the next speaker.

While Greene initially appeared to be alone in her push to oust Johnson, she gained the support of two other Republican lawmakers, Rep. Thomas Massie from Kentucky and Rep. Paul Gosar from Arizona. Massie called on Johnson to either resign or face a no-confidence vote, while Gosar stated that he would support Greene’s efforts. With the backing of these conservative hardliners, Greene’s motion gained more attention and caused further tension within the GOP.

Johnson’s position has been further complicated by the recent passage of foreign aid bills, which fund key U.S. allies such as Ukraine and Israel. Many conservatives, including Greene, had pressured Johnson to tie strict policy changes to the aid. However, Johnson, who personally supports aiding Ukraine, had maintained that playing politics with foreign aid is not the right approach. Despite this, Greene continued to criticize Johnson for his actions in regards to the aid bills.

While Greene’s motion to oust Johnson is unlikely to succeed, it has still caused a stir within the House. House Democrats, who are a majority in the chamber, have promised to vote to dismiss the motion, ensuring that Johnson will not be removed. However, Greene and her supporters have hinted that there may be other lawmakers willing to join their cause, potentially causing even more tension within the GOP.

Greene has defended her move, saying it will allow Americans to see where their representatives stand on the issue. She also shared her belief that “we have people that are capable” as potential replacements for Johnson. Meanwhile, Democrats have condemned her motion, saying that it is “wrong for the country” and that they will vote to end it. With tensions high and the future of the Republican leadership uncertain, all eyes will be on the House next week as the vote to oust Johnson plays out.