Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Wednesday evening introduced a motion to vacate Mike Johnson from the House Speakership — and was subsequently booed by members of Congress from both sides of the aisle.
The Georgia Republican introduced the measure as a privileged resolution, meaning leadership must kill it or bring it up for a vote within two legislative days. If the vote succeeds, Johnson would stay in Congress, but he would become just the second Speaker kicked out from the role.
Greene and fellow GOP Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Paul Gosar of Arizona back the move, meaning Johnson — operating with a small majority — needs Democratic votes to keep his job.
But their effort is not expected to succeed; former President Donald Trump has reportedly warned her against the move, as well as most Republicans, fearing potential blowback in a presidential election year. And House Democrats have said they would give Johnson the votes needed to survive, as opposed to when former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted in October.
Greene introduced her measure in part because she sees Johnson’s reliance on Democratic votes — including to pass $61 billion in aid for Ukraine — to pass some bills during his time as Speaker as a betrayal to conservatives.
