Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on Tuesday that he plans to continue in his position, rejecting suggestions that he could be at risk of losing his job after the November election.
“I plan to lead this conference in the future,” Johnson stated at a press conference. “And the most important thing we have to do right now is govern the country well — demonstrate to the American people that we will, and that we are, as we’ve been doing.”
Johnson mentioned that right now, his top priority is winning in November and expanding the House majority, stating, “That’s my singular focus right now.”
“We have plans for the next Congress, and we’ve been outlining a lot of that. But right now, it’s all hands on deck, all hands on the wheel and steering the ship of state, so to speak, so I’m honored to be able to do that,” he said. “I expect I’ll be doing that in the future.”
Johnson’s confidence comes amid heightened tensions in the House GOP conference, as many conservatives have been furious with his leadership style and with certain legislative compromises he has struck with Democrats, including on Ukraine aid and a sweeping government funding bill.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has long dangled the threat of an ouster vote over Johnson, and last week said she would force a floor vote this week on her motion to vacate resolution. Greene has not said whether she intends to proceed with that plan after a two-hour meeting with Johnson on Monday and plans to meet again on Tuesday.
Greene’s resolution has not gained much momentum among fellow hard-liners, with only Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) backing the effort publicly, but many conservatives still say they agree with many of Greene’s concerns.
Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), the chair of the Freedom Caucus, has said now is not the time to remove the Speaker, but he suggested a competitive race will take place after the November elections to select a new GOP leader.
“The prudent thing is to do as much as we can to influence the best possible outcomes over the next six months to the election and then have a contest in November for Speaker,” Good told reporters last month.
Those supporting Greene’s resolution have been even more explicit about Johnson’s leadership future.
“We know that Mike Johnson can’t get a majority of Republicans in January,” Massie said last week. “Even our colleagues who aren’t co-sponsors of this have privately admitted there is no way in hell they’re gonna vote for Mike Johnson to be Speaker in January.”
Greene said something similar last month, telling reporters Johnson is “definitely not going to be Speaker next Congress if we’re lucky enough to have the majority.”
Johnson, however, has been defiant even amid fierce backlash from some in his conference.
On Tuesday, he nodded to the support he has from former President Trump and said that party leaders are united in their vision.
“I’m glad I have the support of President Trump. I was down with him most recently this weekend,” Johnson said at the press conference. “And all of our, the leaders of our party, we’re united in this in this cause because our objective and our mission is to save the country.”
During an interview last week with “The Hill” on NewsNation, Johnson indicated he wanted to stay in his current role.
“I’m fulfilling my responsibilities, as asked by my colleagues. I will keep doing it as long as we are effective, and I have ambitious plans for the Congress and the country,” Johnson stated when questioned about his desire to be Speaker again in 2025.
“I believe Donald Trump will win the White House. I think … Republicans will regain control of the Senate. And I am confident we will expand the House majority,” he added. “We have a lot of important work to do, and I will work in whatever capacity my colleagues deem suitable.”
