Republican vs Republican: Taylor Greene launches efforts to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson

Republic Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene announced Wednesday (May 1) thatshe would table a motion next week seeking the removal of her fellow Republican Mike Johnson as House speaker. However, her efforts seem doomed to fail as she lacks significant support among Republicansas well asDemocrats.

“I think the American people need to see a recorded vote,” Greene said at a press conference. “And so next week, I am going to be calling this motion to vacate – absolutely calling it. I can’t wait to see Democrats go out and support a Republican speaker and have to go home to their primaries and have to run for Congress again.”

Earlier,on Tuesday, House Democratic leadersinastatementsaid they would stand againstGreene’s motion if it came up for a vote.

“At this moment, upon completion of our national security work, the time has come to turn the page on this chapter of pro-Putin Republican obstruction,” the leaders stated in the joint statement. “We will vote to table Marjorie Taylor Greene’s motion to vacate the chair. If she invokes the motion, it will not succeed.”

Do Republicans support Taylor’s motion?

So far, only two Republicans havetendered support toher anti-Johnson motion—Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Paul Gosar of Arizona.It meansGreene would be short of hundreds of votes to get a majority.

Democrats also oppose her efforts and cite Johnson’s successful attempt to shepherd a foreign aid package through the House last month.

Mike Johnson’s response

Mike Johnson hasso farignored Greene’s campaign, saying her motion would be “wrong for the Republican conference, wrong for the institution, and wrong for the country.”

At a press conference on Tuesday, he urged his fellow House Republicans to “remain focused.”

“I have to do my job. We have to do what we believe to be the right thing,” Johnson said. “We need people who are serious about the job here to continue to do that job and get it done. So I have to do what I believe is right every day and let the chips fall where they may,” he said.

Greene’s concerns

Greene accuses Mike Johnson of prioritising Democratic agendas ahead of Republican issues, and the attacks against him have intensified following the passage of the Ukraine aid bill last month.

The proposal, which has now become a law, will see the US sending military aid worth $61 billion to Ukraine, a move several Republicans look askance upon.

“What are we giving Republican voters to vote for?” Greene asked. “Once [Johnson] became speaker, he has become a man that none of us recognise.”

With Greene’s impending motion coming to reality, this would mark the second time in less than a year that the House has considered removing its speaker.

Earlier in October last year, Republican Kevin McCarthy was shown thedoor as speaker, becoming the first leadertoeverbe formallyremovedfrom the role.

(With inputs from agencies)