Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene launches her plan to oust Speaker Johnson – The Washington Post – The Washington Post
House Republicans were largely dismissive of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes (R-Ga.) announcement Wednesday that she would force them to vote on ousting Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) next week, with many predicting her move would fail.
Greenes escalation has further divided the deeply fractured Republican conference, with lawmakers eager to move past their internal rancor and focus on retaining their slender House majority in November.
Greenes move has also frustrated top advisers to former president Donald Trump, and one person said Trump has repeatedly described the Republican infighting as embarrassing.
He wishes it would just go away, this person said.
His advisers believe the situation puts Trump in the difficult bind of choosing between allies he likes and is furthermore unnecessary in the middle of an election year where they want to be talking about immigration, inflation, campus protests and other issues they view as more favorable.
We are trying to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory by making the story Republican infighting, said the person who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss Trumps thinking.
Trump has endorsed Johnsons handling of the speakership, but its unclear if the presumptive GOP presidential nominee will proactively intervene to halt Greene from introducing her motion to vacate because she has been a consistently loyal ally. A fired-up Greene claimed Wednesday morning she was bringing her motion to help Trump, arguing that Johnson has fully funded the Justice Department that she charges wants to put Trump in jail for life.
I fight for [Trumps agenda] every day, and thats why Im fighting my colleagues now, Greene said. We have to do this. We have to win in November. We have to keep the majority.
Trump spent multiple hours with Johnson last month at Mar-a-Lago, where they discussed candidate endorsements and party politics. Trumps new head of the Republican National Committee, Michael Whatley, told Republicans on Tuesday that Trump wants to see the GOP conference remain united.
Trumps involvement may not be necessary as a majority of Republicans plan to vote with a sizable amount of Democrats to prevent Johnsons ouster and avoid plunging the House into uncertainty.
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), who chairs the largest factions of conservatives in the Republican Study Committee, said Trump wants Republicans to focus on bigger issues and not get sidetracked with feuding. Lets get focused on winning in November, keeping the House, taking the Senate and having the White House in January and really run hard to get a lot of great things done for Americans, he said.
Greene intends to act sometime next week and as of Wednesday afternoon, there were only two other Republicans Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Paul A. Gosar (Ariz.) who publicly backed her motion. The House would have two legislative days to consider the motion, but would first consider a move to reject it that Democrats are expected to support.
Forcing the House to consider ousting Johnson marks the second time Republicans have acted to remove their speaker over the past six months. Rep. Matt Gaetz (Fla.) led the charge to get rid of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), who became the first speaker in history to be removed from the post after seven other Republicans and all Democrats supported his ouster. As a result, the House stopped functioning for almost a month as the Republican majority devolved into chaos, repeatedly failing to elect a speaker until GOP members unanimously elected the ultraconservative, and little-known, Johnson.
Mike Johnson is not capable of that job. He has proven it over and over again, Greene said Wednesday morning, adding that she wants to see lawmakers vote on the record.
Greenes chances of success, however, are in doubt because House Democratic leadership has pledged to rescue Johnson by attempting to kill the measure before it can gain any traction. Nonetheless, Republicans will hold a one-vote House majority by next week, and anything could happen in the volatile chamber where support from GOP hard-liners is always in question.
Several people familiar with House GOP leaderships thinking say its possible that Johnson would call up the vote for immediate consideration after Greene formally triggers it. A vote to table or effectively kill the measure would come first, which is the motion Democrats have pledged to support. If that isnt successful, only then would a final vote occur to oust Johnson and Democrats have said they wont intervene to save the speaker in that case.
Marjorie Taylor Greene is the star of the show. The show is called Republicans Gone Wild, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said. House Republicans are either unwilling or unable to get [Greene] and the extreme MAGA Republicans under control, and so, its going to take a bipartisan coalition and partnership to accomplish that objective.
Several Republicans said some hard-liners might oppose the move to table Greenes motion because they know Johnson wont ultimately be ousted.
I think thats a possibility, Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-Va.) said.
Its unclear, however, how Republicans would actually vote if the vacate motion came to the floor. If all lawmakers are present and participating in a final vote to oust Johnson, Greene, Massie and Gosars support would be enough to remove the speaker from the office because House Republicans razor-thin voting margin will temporarily go down to one once Democrat Tim Kennedy is sworn in to fill an open seat in New York.
After months of threats, Greene and Massie held an early-morning news conference in which they finally tipped their hands. Greene indicated that she wanted to give Republicans the weekend to reflect on how they will vote, and she suggested Johnson should pray on it and resign rather than embrace the endorsement of Jeffries and House Democrats.
Everybody needs a weekend to prepare. Im not irresponsible. I care about my conference. I have been measured. I have given this time. I have been giving warning after warning, Greene said. It was a warning to stop serving the Democrats and support our Republican conference and support our agenda. And [Johnson] didnt do it.
Johnson responded quickly: This motion is wrong for the Republican Conference, wrong for the institution and wrong for the country.
The steps to oust Johnson from the speakership
Greene has said she will formally introduce a motion to vacate next week.
This kicks off a 48-hour process in which the House can remove the speaker.
Motion to table
introduced
No motion
to table is
introduced
Democratic leadership has pledged to support a motion to table, effectively killing the measure.
The steps to oust Johnson from the speakership
Greene has said she will formally introduce a motion to vacate next week.
This kicks off a 48-hour process in which the House can remove the speaker.
Motion to table introduced
No motion to table is
introduced
Democratic leadership has pledged to support a motion to table, effectively killing the measure.
Greene devoted a majority of her 30-minute news conference to discussing Johnsons reliance on House Democrats to pass votes the far-right vehemently disagreed with, even though their quest for ideological purity on must-pass legislation helped drive Johnson into Democratic arms.
Now we have Hakeem Jeffries coming out over and over again, embracing Mike Johnson with a warm hug and a big wet sloppy kiss. They want to keep the band together, she said. Theyre sharing the gavel. Theyre holding it together.
Before Greenes announcement, Johnson had some choice words for her. Often referencing her as a friend, Johnson said in an interview on NewsNations The Hill program that he no longer considers her a serious lawmaker.
Bless her heart, Johnson said, deploying a subtle insult often used in the South. I dont spend a lot of time thinking about her. Ive got to do my job, and we do the right thing and we let the chips fall where they may.
In response, Massie said that Greene is the most serious representative up here.
If you listen to the speech that she just gave, she captured exactly what Republicans back home are thinking. They are tired of this swamp, he said.
Greene and Massie charge Johnson with committing three sins during his six months helming the House: relying on Democrats to fund the government in late March, pushing past far-right concerns over a government surveillance reauthorization bill, and sending $61 billion to aid Ukraine as part of a $95 billion foreign aid package.
Greene did not name anyone she thought could cobble enough votes together to win the speakership if her effort is successful. That has been a major concern among Republicans who recognize that their inability to agree on much of anything could jeopardize their ability to elect a conservative as speaker again.
Im not naming names, but I think we have people that are capable. Anybody thats willing to fight for our agenda anyone that refuses to share the power with Hakeem Jeffries, she said.
Massie addressed the alleged futility of trying to oust Johnson when the large majority of the House appears ready to save the speaker, urging Republicans to ask Johnson to resign in discussions with him before the vote occurs.
What weve seen here is the coming out of the uniparty and it will be apparent next week, Massie said, referring to Johnson and Democrats working together to save the speaker. We cannot coast this one out.
One Republican said, despite Greenes charge that voters are outraged by the way the House does business, that no one outside of Washington cares about the intraparty infighting.
Weve got an election coming up. You go anywhere in America and you talk to a person on the street, theyre not going to say who the next speaker is is the most pressing issue that they have, said Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a member of the Freedom Caucus who will not vote in support of ousting Johnson.
Mariana Alfaro contributed to this report.
- Republicans toe Trump line even in aftermath of deadly Texas floods - The Guardian - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Opinion | How Republicans can defy history and survive the midterms - The Washington Post - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- What the Big, Beautiful Bill Reveals About Republicans - Slate Magazine - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Are Republicans bowing to Trump even more than they used to? - KCRW - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- How Republicans sidelined the health care industry and pushed through historic Medicaid cuts - STAT - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Republicans urge US universities to cut ties with 'nefarious' Chinese-backed scholarship program - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Full List of Republicans Who Voted To Slash Weather Forecasting Funding - Newsweek - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Republicans are already getting hammered over the OBBB - Punchbowl News - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Will Republicans in Virginia pay a price for the One Big Beautiful Bill? Here's what the math shows. - Cardinal News - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- These Republicans fought for green energy tax credits. Trumps latest order could threaten them - Deseret News - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- 'Nefarious mechanism': Republicans issue stern warning to US universities against Chinese scholarship pro - Times of India - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Republicans Are Already Licking Their Lips at the Chance of Another Reconciliation Bill - NOTUS - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Republicans say 'big, beautiful bill' will address states with high SNAP payment error, including Colorado - Denver7 - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Opinion | Everyone Hates This Bill. Dan Osborn Could Make Republicans Pay for It. - The New York Times - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- 'Big, Beautiful Bill': Which House Republicans voted against the bill? - FOX 5 DC - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- 2 Ohio Republicans taking on their own party to protect access to marijuana - News 5 Cleveland WEWS - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Republicans just cut Medicaid. Will it cost them control of Congress? - Politico - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- News Analysis: The healthcare cuts approved by Trump, Republicans go well beyond Medicaid - Los Angeles Times - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- People Are Saying We Might Not Even Make It To The Midterm Election After Elizabeth Warren Tried To Give Hope About Republicans Having To "Face... - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Fake Weather, Fake Flooding: Republicans Are Spreading A Bizarre Conspiracy Theory After The Deadly Texas Floods - HuffPost - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Trump & Congressional Republicans Big Ugly Bill Will Hurt American Families - New Democrat Coalition (.gov) - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- What the Republicans New Policy Bill Means for Higher Education - The New York Times - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Republicans used to be the fiscally conservative party, but look at us now - Idaho Capital Sun - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Trump Goes on a Charm Offensive as He Woos Holdout Republicans - The New York Times - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- U.S. Rep. Castor Statement on Republicans Big Ugly Bill That Will Inflict Outsized Harm & Raise Costs on Floridians - U.S. Representative Kathy... - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Opinion | Republicans may be cooking up a mess in Texas - The Washington Post - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Republicans, Democrats start gaming out Trump's tax-cut bill hit to 2026 elections - Reuters - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Republicans Pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Ahead of the July 4 Deadline - Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- These Republicans Savaged Their Partys Bill, Then Voted for It - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- How Republicans Re-engineered the Tax Code - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Republicans passed the 'big, beautiful bill.' Will it come back to haunt them? - USA Today - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Congressional Republicans defy expectations and send megabill to Trump - Colorado Public Radio - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Why Republicans once staunchly opposed to Trumps bill changed their minds - PBS - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Texas Republicans vote to send GOPs tax and spending megabill to Trumps desk after threatening to tank it - The Texas Tribune - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- The 2 House Republicans who voted no on Trump's sweeping domestic policy bill - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- House Republicans pass their megabill, sending it to President Trump - Politico - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Jeffries calls out Republicans over Medicaid ahead of final megabill vote - Politico - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Which House Republicans voted against Trump tax bill? - USA Today - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- These House Republicans Voted Against Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' - Newsweek - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- These are the 5 Republicans who voted against Trumps Big Beautiful Bill - AL.com - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Where Trumps massive policy bill stands in the House as some Republicans express concerns - PBS - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- House Republicans expected to pass Trump's massive tax and policy bill by July 4 - NPR - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Republicans Vulnerable to Losing Their Seats After Voting Yes on Trump Bill - Newsweek - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Who were the 2 Republicans that voted against Trump's tax bill? - NBC 5 Chicago - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- House Republicans advance Trump's tax-cut bill to a final vote - Reuters - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Congress passes Trump's tax and spending bill, with all four Colorado Republicans in the House voting "yes" - The Colorado Sun - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Republicans Just Passed the Worst Bill in Modern American History - Mother Jones - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Senate works a tense overnight session as Republicans seek support for Trumps big bill - PBS - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Article | Senate Republicans shock the House with a supercharged megabill - POLITICO Pro - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans struggle to push Trump's budget bill over the finish line - BBC - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Which Republicans Voted Against Trumps Bill in the Senate - The New York Times - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- The Republicans who bucked Trump on his big bill: From the Politics Desk - NBC News - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Why Republicans are rushing to pass Trump's "big, beautiful bill" - MSNBC News - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- House Republicans don't have the votes yet to pass Trump's megabill - CNBC - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Which Senate Republicans voted against Trump's tax and spending bill? - USA Today - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Fact-Checking Trump and Republicans on Proposed Tax Cuts in Policy Bill - The New York Times - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Senate Republicans just voted to dismantle Americas only climate plan - Grist.org - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Senate Republicans pass Trumps big bill but it may cost them in the future - The Guardian - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- House Republicans race toward a final vote on Trumps tax bill, daring critics to oppose - AP News - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- The Republicans in Congress Who Are Opting to Self-Deport From Washington - The New York Times - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Ahead of 2026, Georgia Republicans Are Quietly Installing Election Conspiracy Theorists on Local Boards - Democracy Docket - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Whats in the latest version of Trumps big bill Senate Republicans are trying to pass - PBS - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- The Top 5 Ways the Congressional Republicans Budget Reconciliation Bill Will Harm Disabled Students - Center for American Progress - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Republicans introduce last-minute industry killer tax on solar and wind in spending bill - CNN - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Young Republicans are fueling the GOPs generational divide on Israel - The Washington Post - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Senate Republicans tax cuts cost projected to rise to $4.45T - Politico - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Whats in Trump and Senate Republicans tax and immigration bill? - The Washington Post - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans move to slash consumer bureau funding by half, risking hundreds of job cuts - AP News - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans advance Trump's tax and spending cuts bill after dramatic late-night vote - AP News - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans scramble to pass Trump's big bill before July 4 deadline - Scripps News - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Trump attacks Republicans who voted against big beautiful Bill - Yahoo - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Governor Hochul Slams Washington Republicans for Threatening New Yorkers Jobs, Small Businesses and Health Care in the North Country - Governor Kathy... - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Trump reacts to Tillis not seeking re-election, sends warning to 'cost cutting Republicans' - Fox News - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Article | Senate Republicans make steep cuts to wind and solar in updated megabill text - POLITICO Pro - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans scrambling to pass tax-and-spend bill by Trump deadline - The Guardian - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Republicans rush to pass Big, Beautiful Bill ahead of July 4th holiday - CGTN America - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans Can Still Abandon Disastrous, Rushed Reconciliation Bill - Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Gov. Kotek blames transportation package failure on Republicans who just wanted to go home - Oregon Capital Chronicle - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Republicans dangle reprieve from tax retaliation as Trump bill heads toward votes - Reuters - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- News Wrap: Senate Republicans unveil their version of Trumps big budget bill - PBS - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]