Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) revealed that he texted with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Sunday and plans to meet with her early next week to address some of her worries.
After Greene initiated a motion to remove Johnson from his position over a week ago, the two are set to discuss the matter next week. Greene made the motion as a warning to Johnson following his collaboration on a spending package that prevented a partial government shutdown.
In an interview on Fox News’s “Sunday Night in America With Trey Gowdy,” Johnson explained that Greene submitted the motion, which does not automatically proceed, and expressed their plan to talk early next week after exchanging text messages that day.
Johnson emphasized his agreement with Greene on various matters but defended his decision to negotiate on spending bills that ultimately prevented a partial government shutdown. Greene's motion to remove him was prompted by the spending package.
Johnson addressed the frustration shared by Greene and himself regarding recent spending bills during an interview on Fox News, stating that they are not ideal but were necessary due to the slim margin of approval in the US.
Johnson reaffirmed his dedication to the GOP conference but acknowledged that internal discord works to the advantage of Democrats.
Johnson expressed his belief that fellow Republican colleagues view the situation as a distraction from their goal of strengthening the party. He stressed the importance of unity to achieve success in the upcoming elections.
He noted the impact of internal conflict on negotiations with Democrats, highlighting the concessions made in certain bills due to lack of unified support. He mentioned the effort to prevent undesirable elements from being included in the bill.
Johnson explained that party turmoil hinders efforts to negotiate with Democrats, leading to an imperfect spending package that averted a partial shutdown.
He mentioned successfully removing a significant portion of unwanted elements from the bill, but some managed to pass through, causing frustration for both Greene and himself. He intends to discuss reforming the budgeting and spending process with her, emphasizing that unity within the party is crucial for implementing transformative changes.
