House Speaker Mike Johnson Stands Firm Against Right-Wing Criticism on Foreign Aid Decisions
Amid mounting pressure on his leadership, House Speaker Mike Johnson stands resolute, refusing to step down and labeling threats to his position as baseless. Recent dissent from within his party regarding foreign aid allocations to Ukraine and Israel has sparked controversy within the GOP ranks.
House Speaker Mike Johnson defiantly stated on Tuesday that he will not resign despite facing increasing threats to his speakership. He dismissed the threats to his gavel as "absurd" after another Republican member of Congress expressed intentions to oust him for his management of legislation regarding foreign aid to Ukraine and Israel.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie announced his co-sponsorship of an effort to remove Johnson from his position and called for his resignation. In response, the Louisiana Republican characterized himself as a "wartime speaker" during these challenging times.
Johnson reassured reporters that he is not resigning. He expressed disbelief at the idea of a motion to vacate while they are focused on their responsibilities.
Republican hardliners are becoming increasingly frustrated with Johnson's intricate proposal to allocate billions in foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
Massie informed his Republican colleagues during a private meeting on Tuesday morning that he will be supporting the motion to remove Johnson from his position. This shows a major increase in the pressure from the far right to oust Johnson from his leadership role. The calls for Johnson's removal have been ongoing since Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia introduced a resolution to remove him from the chair last month.
Massie faced backlash from his Republican colleagues when he made the announcement. GOP Rep. Trent Kelly of Mississippi even stood up to criticize Massie, stating that not supporting the speaker was "wrong."
After the meeting, Massie revealed to CNN that he had asked the speaker to resign, but the speaker refused. Massie expressed his concerns that the motion would be called up, leading to the speaker losing more votes than former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. He had already warned the speaker about this weeks ago in private.
Johnson may need Democratic support to pass his foreign aid package and potentially save his job, as Republicans have a slim majority and are divided on sending aid to Ukraine. However, Johnson believes House Republicans will find a solution without relying on Democrats.
House Democrats are currently faced with a decision regarding whether to support Johnson or pressure Republicans to consider the $95 billion Senate package that has been delayed for two months. The text of the plan has not been made public, leading to uncertainty among House Democrats. They met on Tuesday morning to discuss their options.
Johnson's first challenge lies in gaining approval for the rule that governs floor debate. This procedural step is crucial for legislation to be passed by a majority vote. In the past, these rules were typically approved along party lines. However, GOP divisions have disrupted this process seven times in this Congress, causing delays in the agenda.
Greene, a Republican, stated that she will vote against the rule. Other Republican members are still deciding on how they will vote, as reported by CNN.
The Louisiana Republican made his announcement on Monday, predicting that the House will vote on the separate bills on Friday evening. Johnson confirmed on Tuesday that he plans to present his proposal on the floor by the end of the week.
In November, the House approved a bill that would give $14.3 billion in aid to Israel. However, Democrats raised concerns because the bill did not include aid for Ukraine and would also result in funding cuts to the Internal Revenue Service.
In February, the Senate passed a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill that included assistance for Ukraine, Israel, and other important priorities.
This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.
CNN’s Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report.
Editor's P/S:
The escalating tensions within the Republican party over House Speaker Mike Johnson's leadership are a stark reflection of the deep divisions within the party. Johnson's defiance in the face of growing threats to his speakership highlights the power struggles that are consuming the GOP. The party's hardliners are becoming increasingly vocal in their opposition to Johnson's handling of foreign aid legislation, particularly the allocation of billions in aid to Ukraine and Israel. The co-sponsorship of a motion to remove Johnson by Representative Thomas Massie is a significant development, indicating that the pressure on Johnson is intensifying.
As the House Democrats grapple with the decision of whether to support Johnson or push for the Senate's $95 billion foreign aid package, the situation becomes even more complex. The outcome of this decision could potentially determine Johnson's political fate and the future of the GOP. The procedural hurdles that Johnson faces in gaining approval for the rule governing floor debate further add to the uncertainty surrounding his speakership. The division within the Republican party is evident in the differing views on how to proceed, with some members expressing concerns and others remaining undecided. The situation is fluid, and the next few days could prove crucial in shaping the future of the Republican party and the direction of foreign aid policy.
