As he faced the most direct challenge to his leadership since assuming the position last fall—which was brought on by his attempts to deliver long-stalled financing for Israel, the Ukraine, and other friends abroad—House Speaker Mike Johnson pledged to stay in his position on Tuesday.
The Louisiana Republican is now attempting to hold onto his job while navigating a convoluted, four-part bill through the House by the end of the week—probably with a significant reliance on Democratic votes. However, a growing number of Republicans have expressed disapproval with his leadership. By the end of the day, members were voicing worries about his idea to pass four measures, tie them together, and send them to the Senate, indicating that his plans were starting to fall apart.
The latest challenge to Johnson's speakership emerged on Tuesday morning when Rep. Thomas Massie (R., Ky.), a fierce opponent of more assistance to Ukraine, said he would support Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.) in her move to step down from the position. This move might result in a vote to remove the speaker. Greene did not attempt to compel a vote, despite filing the request last month.
According to Massie, Johnson should step aside and let the GOP choose a new leader. He said that a move to remove Johnson from office would now receive more support than it did in October, when eight rebel Republicans forced the resignation of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.).
Johnson brushed the idea aside. "It is absurd that someone would bring a vacate motion when we are just trying to do our job," he told reporters. "I am not resigning."
Our driver has to be steady-handed. Johnson spoke to the difficulties the nation faces and his slim 218–213 majority when he declared, "I regard myself as a wartime speaker." "I did not think this would be a simple route."
With the passage of legislation funding the government and other essential measures—like the recent reauthorization of a controversial surveillance bill known as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act—Johnson has consistently turned to Democrats for support, a move that has angered a sizable segment of the conservative base. This is why Massie made his move. Numerous conservatives have also insisted that prior to stepping up border security measures in the United States, no funds be sent to Ukraine.
However, as of late Tuesday, no further Republicans had signed on to the motion to resign, and no legislator was in sight who would be a willing or credible successor in the event that Johnson were to be ousted.
When it comes to topics like reducing spending, Johnson's detractors in the GOP claim he has not pushed Democrats hard enough. In response, Johnson claims the party is in a poor position because of his historically small majority and the Democratic administration and Senate.
As Ukraine enters its third year of conflict with Russia, the White House and other congressmen have put tremendous pressure on Johnson to approve financing for the country. In an attempt to end the protracted impasse over a $95 billion foreign assistance package that the Senate enacted earlier this year, he finally presented a proposal late on Monday to bring four different legislation to the House floor.
President Biden and top congressional figures from both parties had pushed Johnson to take up the Senate measure. Rather, Johnson divided the funding to circumvent a sizable contingent of Republicans, notably Massie and Greene, who are against increasing help to Ukraine.
The White House and congressional Democrats said they were waiting to see specifics, but Johnson said he intended to reveal the measures' exact wording as soon as later on Tuesday.
On Tuesday afternoon, however, Republican legislators and staffers reported that Johnson's strategy was unraveling. The goal was to approve legislation supporting Taiwan, Israel, and Ukraine individually, along with a package including many GOP objectives like limiting TikTok, and then combine the bills to present to the Senate as a single bill.
"Instead of being remitted together, more people have spoken out in the conference for individual bills," said Republican Representative French Hill of Arkansas. "I believe the speaker should have the final say on that."
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-South Carolina), who claimed to have visited with Johnson throughout the day, said, "That is being altered right now."
The absence of any immigration-related provisions in the package infuriated Republicans as well.
Texas Republican Representative Chip Roy said, "We have said multiple times over the last six months, border first, before Ukraine."
A vacate motion seemed unappealing to several Republicans.
Representative Dan Meuser (R., Pa.) said, "I like Marjorie, I like Massie, but that is not what a motion to vacate was designed for, it was designed for scandal."
Unless any Democrats in the chamber opt to save him, Johnson could only lose two Republican votes in a vote to retain his position. The majority will be much smaller since Wisconsin GOP Representative Mike Gallagher intends to resign from Congress on April 19.
If Republicans attempted to remove Johnson over Ukraine, Democrats have said they would intervene to keep him in office. "I still have the same job. I refuse to watch helplessly while Massie wants the world to burn. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) said on social media, "I have a bucket of water."
The Louisiana Republican is now attempting to hold onto his job while navigating a convoluted, four-part bill through the House by the end of the week—probably with a significant reliance on Democratic votes. However, a growing number of Republicans have expressed disapproval with his leadership. By the end of the day, members were voicing worries about his idea to pass four measures, tie them together, and send them to the Senate, indicating that his plans were starting to fall apart.
The latest challenge to Johnson's speakership emerged on Tuesday morning when Rep. Thomas Massie (R., Ky.), a fierce opponent of more assistance to Ukraine, said he would support Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.) in her move to step down from the position. This move might result in a vote to remove the speaker. Greene did not attempt to compel a vote, despite filing the request last month.
According to Massie, Johnson should step aside and let the GOP choose a new leader. He said that a move to remove Johnson from office would now receive more support than it did in October, when eight rebel Republicans forced the resignation of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.).
Johnson brushed the idea aside. "It is absurd that someone would bring a vacate motion when we are just trying to do our job," he told reporters. "I am not resigning."
Our driver has to be steady-handed. Johnson spoke to the difficulties the nation faces and his slim 218–213 majority when he declared, "I regard myself as a wartime speaker." "I did not think this would be a simple route."
With the passage of legislation funding the government and other essential measures—like the recent reauthorization of a controversial surveillance bill known as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act—Johnson has consistently turned to Democrats for support, a move that has angered a sizable segment of the conservative base. This is why Massie made his move. Numerous conservatives have also insisted that prior to stepping up border security measures in the United States, no funds be sent to Ukraine.
However, as of late Tuesday, no further Republicans had signed on to the motion to resign, and no legislator was in sight who would be a willing or credible successor in the event that Johnson were to be ousted.
When it comes to topics like reducing spending, Johnson's detractors in the GOP claim he has not pushed Democrats hard enough. In response, Johnson claims the party is in a poor position because of his historically small majority and the Democratic administration and Senate.
As Ukraine enters its third year of conflict with Russia, the White House and other congressmen have put tremendous pressure on Johnson to approve financing for the country. In an attempt to end the protracted impasse over a $95 billion foreign assistance package that the Senate enacted earlier this year, he finally presented a proposal late on Monday to bring four different legislation to the House floor.
President Biden and top congressional figures from both parties had pushed Johnson to take up the Senate measure. Rather, Johnson divided the funding to circumvent a sizable contingent of Republicans, notably Massie and Greene, who are against increasing help to Ukraine.
The White House and congressional Democrats said they were waiting to see specifics, but Johnson said he intended to reveal the measures' exact wording as soon as later on Tuesday.
On Tuesday afternoon, however, Republican legislators and staffers reported that Johnson's strategy was unraveling. The goal was to approve legislation supporting Taiwan, Israel, and Ukraine individually, along with a package including many GOP objectives like limiting TikTok, and then combine the bills to present to the Senate as a single bill.
"Instead of being remitted together, more people have spoken out in the conference for individual bills," said Republican Representative French Hill of Arkansas. "I believe the speaker should have the final say on that."
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-South Carolina), who claimed to have visited with Johnson throughout the day, said, "That is being altered right now."
The absence of any immigration-related provisions in the package infuriated Republicans as well.
Texas Republican Representative Chip Roy said, "We have said multiple times over the last six months, border first, before Ukraine."
A vacate motion seemed unappealing to several Republicans.
Representative Dan Meuser (R., Pa.) said, "I like Marjorie, I like Massie, but that is not what a motion to vacate was designed for, it was designed for scandal."
Unless any Democrats in the chamber opt to save him, Johnson could only lose two Republican votes in a vote to retain his position. The majority will be much smaller since Wisconsin GOP Representative Mike Gallagher intends to resign from Congress on April 19.
If Republicans attempted to remove Johnson over Ukraine, Democrats have said they would intervene to keep him in office. "I still have the same job. I refuse to watch helplessly while Massie wants the world to burn. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) said on social media, "I have a bucket of water."
