Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has renewed her threat to oust Speaker Mike Johnson by sending a blistering letter condemning his leadership. The five-page letter does not specify when or if she plans to force a floor vote on Johnson’s removal. Greene’s opposition to Johnson stems from his support for funding Ukraine, which she believes is not a priority compared to securing the U.S. border. She has criticized Johnson for working with Democrats to pass major legislation and has accused him of failing to uphold his promises to his GOP conference.
Greene laid the groundwork for Johnson’s potential ouster last month after he collaborated with Democrats to pass a $1.2 trillion spending bill. While Greene initially described the resolution calling for Johnson’s removal as a warning, she has not ruled out forcing a floor vote in the future. In her letter, she accused Johnson of serving the Democrats and the Biden administration instead of his own party. Greene believes that Johnson’s actions have alienated the Republican base and given them little reason to support a Republican House majority in the upcoming elections.
Despite Greene’s efforts to rally support among her Republican colleagues for Johnson’s removal, they have shown little appetite for ousting another speaker. The Republican Party previously faced chaos when former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was removed from his role in a historic vote last October. Since then, the GOP majority has narrowed, forcing Johnson to rely on Democrats to pass legislation due to fractures within his own party. Johnson has downplayed the tension with Greene, stating that they have honest differences on strategy and that she will always have an open door to the Speaker’s office.
In a town hall in Georgia, Greene expressed her frustration with the bitter battles among Republicans and the challenges they have faced in the past year. She asked her constituents if they were also angry, reflecting the internal divisions within the party. Despite Greene’s efforts to remove Johnson from his position as Speaker, it remains uncertain if she will be able to garner enough support to force a floor vote. Johnson has emphasized his respect for Greene while acknowledging their differences in strategy. The ongoing conflict between Greene and Johnson highlights the internal struggles within the Republican Party as they seek to maintain unity and focus on the upcoming elections.
