After former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was removed from his position by House Democrats and a few Republicans, concerns are now being raised about the current Speaker Mike Johnson. Many Republicans are dissatisfied with Johnson’s handling of foreign aid legislation, which includes providing billions of dollars to allies such as Israel and Ukraine. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has called for Johnson’s removal, filing a motion but not yet pushing for a vote.
However, Johnson’s supporters argue that the current rule, allowing any House member to file a motion to vacate the speaker’s chair, is ineffective and makes it difficult for any speaker to effectively do their job. Johnson himself acknowledged this issue in a previous interview, stating that the rule would have to change. But not all Republicans agree on this matter, and reports suggest that a group of conservatives are considering Greene’s campaign to oust Johnson.
While Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, who played a crucial role in McCarthy’s ouster last year, had initially supported Johnson’s speakership, Axios reported that he has turned against him in recent days. Another factor that has angered these conservatives is Wisconsin Representative Derrick Van Orden’s joking remarks, which prompted them to push forward with the motion to vacate.
On Tuesday, Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie announced that he would co-sponsor the motion, citing Johnson’s decision to separate border security funding from the foreign aid proposals. This move has frustrated border hawks, as it prevents them from leveraging their votes to secure additional funds for the border in a closely divided House.
Ep. 96 How did a self-described conservative evangelical like Mike Johnson wind up supporting the anti-Christian policies of the Biden administration? He’s not the only one, as Megan Basham explains. pic.twitter.com/w0XJqzV06V
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) April 18, 2024
Despite this backlash, a few Democrats have expressed their intention to vote against a motion to remove Johnson, meaning that he is likely to retain his position as speaker. Former President Donald Trump has also shown his support for Johnson, but his stance has become more moderate in recent times as the threat to his position has increased.
Johnson is facing significant opposition from Republicans due to his management of foreign aid legislation. While a group of conservatives is considering a motion to remove him, Johnson’s supporters argue that the current rule is ineffective and hinders any speaker from effectively leading the House. Despite this conflict, it seems unlikely that Johnson will be removed from his position, as some Democrats have expressed their support for him.