House Republicans are strongly criticizing anti-LGBTQ+ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) for her surprise motion to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). They’re calling Greene’s move “idiotic,” “abhorrent,” and “a big mistake.”
Last Friday, Green warned of a motion to remove Johnson because he allowed the House to vote on a $1.2 trillion government spending bill that included funding for “trans ideology,” as she described it. The proposed bill initially had over 50 anti-LGBTQ+ provisions, but all but one — a ban on flying Pride flags at foreign U.S. embassies — were removed from the final version signed into law this last weekend.
“I filed the motion to vacate today, but it’s more of a warning and a pink slip,” Greene told reporters after filing the motion on Friday. She said she will use Congress’ current two-week recess to determine when to ask for her motion to be formally recognized. After it’s recognized, the House will have two days to consider whether to take action on it.
However, her Republican colleagues seem to dislike what she’s doing.
Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) called her move a “mistake.”
“I consider Marjorie Taylor Greene to be my friend. She’s still my friend. But she just made a big mistake,” he said Friday, according to The Hill. “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.”
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) said, “It’s not only idiotic, but it actually does not do anything to advance the conservative movement. And in fact, it undermines the country and our majority.”
Rep. Greg Pence (R-IN) said, “This isn’t good for the party. When I go home, people are tuning out what’s going on in the House because of the lack of progress, the chaos that’s happening. And I’d like us to get together and work together. We’re moving in the wrong direction of getting together.”
Even anti-LGBTQ+ Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who spearheaded the late 2023 ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), told Politico, “I’m just not ready to support a motion to vacate.” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), who joined Gaetz in voting to remove McCarthy last year, told reporters that he’s “currently” against removing Johnson.
While speaking to reporters on Friday morning, Greene said that the omnibus spending bill “funds [diversity, equity, and inclusion policies]. It funds trans ideology on our youth as young as 12 years old. We’re already in crisis.”
She also falsely claimed that the bill funds “full-term abortion,” meaning abortions up to the point that the fetus can live outside of the birthing parent, which isn’t legal anywhere in the United States. Earlier last week, she held a Hearing on Investigating the Black Market of Baby Organ Harvesting and invited debunked conspiracy theorists who echoed her false claims.
Nonetheless, Greene’s complaints reflect those of conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus. Caucus members had tried to use budget negotiations to end government funding of any entity that “promotes transgenderism” or provides gender-affirming care; any federal agencies pursuing policies to expand diversity, equality, and inclusivity (DEI); any legal consequences for federal contractors who discriminate against LGBTQ+ people but claim their religion made them do it; and any implementation of the Department of Education’s requirements for schools to make changes for transgender students.
In late 2023, Republican House members adopted a rule that allows them to easily remove their speaker. The rule was used to remove McCarthy in late 2023 after he collaborated with Democrats to pass a budget bill. Johnson is now accused of.
It’s not clear who Republicans might select as Johnson’s replacement, as Johnson was literally the fifth choice for Speaker. Gaetz stated that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) could become the next speaker because of the Republicans’ narrow House majority and internal disagreements over party leadership.
