Washington — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene seemed to back down from her ultimatum to immediately initiate a motion to oust Speaker Mike Johnson as House leader following extensive discussions with him this week.
"Right now, the decision is in Mike Johnson's hands," Greene stated on Tuesday. She also mentioned that the timeline for carrying out her threat to call for a vote is "up to Mike Johnson and it must not be prolonged."
She clarified that Johnson was not provided with a "specific deadline, but it's relatively short."
Greene held meetings with Johnson on Monday and Tuesday as she contemplated the precise moment to push for a vote to remove him from his leadership position. Last Wednesday, Greene had announced her intention to initiate a countdown for a vote to unseat Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, this week after hinting at the possibility since March.
However, following the discussions, she refrained from divulging many details about her strategy to proceed with the vote, indicating that tensions might be easing — at least until another perceived misstep by him in the eyes of the far-right.
Greene's Demands and Johnson's Response
During a recent meeting, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene demanded that no more aid be given to Ukraine, no bills be brought to the floor unless supported by the majority of Republicans, funding be stripped for Justice Department investigations into former President Donald Trump, and automatic spending cuts if the 12 appropriations bills are not passed individually.
In an interview with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon on his "War Room" podcast, Greene stated, "I have high expectations and they have to be met in full. There is no middle ground, there is no compromise."
Representative Johnson from Louisiana described the initial conversation as "productive" and clarified that it was not a negotiation. He expressed optimism about finding a resolution on the suggestions raised during the meeting.
Regarding the discussions, Johnson mentioned, "I take Marjorie's ideas and Thomas' and everybody else's equally and we assess them on their own value, and where we can make improvements and changes and all of that, we do. That's what this is. There's nothing more than that going on."
Support for Greene's Effort
Representative Thomas Massie from Kentucky participated in both meetings alongside GOP Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona, who are the only two Republicans publicly backing Greene's efforts at this stage.
Johnson finds himself leading a divided majority by a single vote margin. The upcoming special elections in May and June, meant to fill the seats of retiring Republicans, are anticipated to provide a more comfortable cushion for the GOP majority.
If Greene proceeds to trigger a vote, Johnson is likely to survive the challenge to his leadership position, thanks to the support from Democrats. This backing puts him in a stronger position despite the GOP's slim control margin. Democrats have pledged to block any efforts to remove him after his support for increased aid to Ukraine, even in defiance of some conservative members of his own party.
The willingness of Democrats to assist a Republican leader in maintaining his power highlights how the House has been pushed to a unique moment due to conservatives' reluctance to compromise. However, Democrats clarify that their actions are more about combating the far right rather than preserving Johnson.
"Our typical stance would be to let the other side resolve their own issues," stated House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, in a recent interview with "60 Minutes." "But when those issues begin to hinder the ability to serve the American people, it becomes our responsibility to ensure that extremists do not disrupt Congress and the nation."
Johnson expressed confidence on Tuesday that he will retain his position of power in the upcoming year.
Future Leadership Plans Revealed
During his weekly press briefing, a statement was made regarding the intention to take the lead at the upcoming conference. The individual confidently expressed, "I will be at the forefront of this conference in the days to come. It is reassuring to have the backing of President Trump."
