Marjorie Taylor Greene Urges Johnson's Resignation Following Passage of Foreign Aid Bills

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene accused House Speaker Mike Johnson of betraying Republican voters. She stated that Johnson's speakership is finished and urged him to resign to allow for a smooth transition. If he refuses to step down, she threatened to call for a vote to remove him from his position. Greene made these remarks during an interview on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures."

After holding off on bringing a foreign aid bill to the House floor for several months, Johnson finally teamed up with Democrats on Saturday to push through a $95 billion foreign aid package. This package includes $61 billion designated for Ukraine and its neighboring countries. The bill received approval from 210 Democrats and 101 Republicans. It is now on its way to the Senate for final approval, expected to be granted later this week.

United States Representative Michael McCaul (Republican of Texas) speaks at a press conference with House Republican Leadership in the Capitol Building in Washington DC, on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

United States Representative Michael McCaul (Republican of Texas) gave a speech at a press conference with House Republican Leadership in the Capitol Building in Washington DC on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Sipa

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If Greene and her supporters follow through with their threat to vote out Johnson as speaker, he will likely have to depend on Democrats for support. Johnson, a Georgia hardliner, is just one of three Republicans who have openly stated they would back the move to remove him. With his slim majority, Johnson cannot afford to lose any Republican votes in a party-line decision.

Johnson claims he hasn't sought assistance from Democrats, but senior Republicans are confident they can rely on bipartisan support to block any attempt to remove him from the speaker's position. This has likely given Johnson the assurance to continue with his agenda.

It remains uncertain if Democrats will offer their support. However, they have shown a willingness to back Johnson, particularly after he went against his own party's wishes to push forward a foreign aid bill similar to one approved by the Senate.

Greene explained that she decided to postpone the motion to vacate on Saturday. She mentioned that she has been handling the situation responsibly but hinted that the motion will eventually be made. Greene attributed the delays to the betrayals by Mike Johnson.

Johnson, on the other hand, did not seem concerned about a possible attempt to remove him from his position on Saturday night. He stated, "I don't go around this building fearing a motion to vacate," after the approval of the foreign aid package.

He emphasized the importance of carrying out his responsibilities, saying, "I have to do my job. I have made decisions based on what I believe is best for the House to proceed. You do what is right, and accept the consequences."

CNN’s Annie Grayer, Melanie Zanona and Manu Raja contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the political battle within the Republican Party over foreign aid, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene leading the opposition against House Speaker Mike Johnson. Greene accuses Johnson of betraying Republican voters by supporting a $95 billion foreign aid package, which she believes should be vetoed. Johnson, however, believes he is acting in the best interests of the country by providing support to Ukraine and its neighbors.

The article also explores the possibility of Greene and her supporters attempting to vote out Johnson as speaker, which would require the support of Democrats. Johnson remains confident that he will be able to retain his position with the support of senior Republicans, even if he has to seek bipartisan support. The outcome of this political showdown will have significant implications for the Republican Party's agenda and its relationship with Democrats.