House Republicans are criticizing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) for her surprise attempt to oust Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), warning that it could further divide the already conflicted GOP conference before the upcoming elections.
Greene informed reporters that she is not immediately bringing her motion to vacate resolution to the floor and does not have a set timeline. However, the concept of ousting another Speaker has angered many fellow Republicans, who are directing their anger toward Greene.
Rep. Mike Lawler, a moderate Republican facing a tough reelection contest in New York, stated, “It’s not only foolish, but it also fails to advance the conservative movement. It actually undermines the country and our majority.”
Not only vulnerable centrists are upset. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.), a member of the far-right Freedom Caucus, is also rushing to defend Johnson, cautioning that Greene’s resolution seeks to remove the only House Republican capable of leading the GOP conference “through these very dark and challenging times.”
In a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Higgins addressed the situation, saying, “I consider Marjorie Taylor Greene to be my friend. She’s still my friend. But she just made a big mistake. To think that one of our Republican colleagues would call for his ouster right now—it’s really, it’s abhorrent to me and I oppose it.”
Greene filed her motion to vacate resolution as the House was voting on a $1.2 trillion spending bill — which was the catalyst for her rabble-rousing move. The congresswoman slammed Johnson for cutting a funding deal with Democrats to avert a shutdown; for giving lawmakers less than 72 hours to review the text of the bill; and bringing it to the floor even though more Republicans voted “no” than “yes,” a breach of the GOP’s “Hastert rule.”
“Today I filed a motion to vacate after Speaker Johnson has betrayed our conference and broken our rules,” Greene told reporters on the steps of the Capitol, later adding “this is basically a warning and it’s time for us to go through the process, take our time, and find a new Speaker of the House that will stand with Republicans and our Republican majority instead of standing with the Democrats.”
Greene said a number of her colleagues are behind her effort to find a new Speaker — ”I’m not the only one” — but she refused to disclose just how many, noting that several of them will likely remain silent.
“I have support on this from others in my conference,” Greene said.
When pressed on how many GOP lawmakers are with her, she responded: “I’ve talked to many who probably won’t go public but silently they’re breathing a sigh of relief.”
But those Republicans were difficult to come by on Friday.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who spearheaded the successful motion to vacate against former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), told Politico “I’m not going to question her decision, I’m just not ready to support a motion to vacate.” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), who also voted to oust McCarthy, said he is “currently” against booting Johnson, though he echoed Greene’s frustration with Johnson’s handling of government funding.
Rep. Greg Pence (R-Ind.), a conservative who supports traditional institutions, said that Greene’s move is another problem created by the GOP.
“This is not good for the party,” he said. “When I go home, people are ignoring what’s happening in the House because of the lack of progress and the chaos. I want us to come together and work as a team.
“We’re heading in the wrong direction of coming together.”
Even if Greene goes ahead with the bold move to force a vote to remove Johnson, Democrats could step in and protect the Speaker — a possibility that some are already predicting.
In the weeks before Greene’s announcement, several Democrats have said they would consider defending Johnson, largely based on the condition that the Speaker takes action on aid for Ukraine, which has been stuck in the House for months. Democrats want Johnson to bring the foreign aid bill, already passed by the Senate, to a vote in the House, but he has refused, saying the House will draft its own legislation for providing assistance abroad.
Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), who recently replaced former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) after his removal, stated on Friday that he would support keeping Johnson in the top position. CNN on Friday that he would vote to keep Johnson in the top job.
“It’s ridiculous that he’s facing removal for doing the right thing, keeping the government open,” he said. “The idea that he would be removed by these jokers is ridiculous.”
When asked if other Democrats would join him in defending Johnson, Suozzi replied: “I hope so.”
“I do not support Speaker Johnson, but I will never stand by and let MTG take over the people’s House,” Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) wrote on X.
Hardline conservatives had suggested the possibility of a motion against Johnson for months — noting that it is always an option — as the Speaker navigated the challenges of the government funding process.
But no GOP lawmaker had said it was time to act, arguing that Johnson — who took over a chaotic conference in October and has since seen his majority decrease — has been in a difficult position.
Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), who voted to remove McCarthy in October, said on Thursday that Johnson bears “some responsibility” for the spending deal and noted that the Speaker has the ultimate accountability, but he also acknowledged the challenging dynamics within the House GOP conference.
“We also have to be realistic and consider the situation he’s in,” Crane said, later adding that “Speaker Johnson is transparent and, you know, follows through on his promises.”
Minutes before the House voted on the extensive spending package on Friday, Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), the chairman of the Freedom Caucus, dismissed a question about triggering a vote on Johnson’s removal.
“You guys ask us every day about the status of the Speaker, but I don’t think anybody here talked so casually or disrespectfully about the Speaker a year ago,” said Good, who voted to remove McCarthy last year. “We focused on policy, we focused on actions, we focused on performance, or lack thereof. And we’re doing the same thing today.”
