On the House floor, Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican representative from Georgia, faced an embarrassing moment when her attempt to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson failed. Both Democrats and Republicans came together to reject her proposal, resulting in a decisive 359-43 vote against her.
When Greene presented her resolution, boos filled the chamber from members on both sides. However, once her motion was defeated, cheers broke out among the House members. Even former President Donald Trump warned against removing the speaker, fearing it would create chaos and harm Republican chances in an election year.
Greene had initially filed her motion over a month ago, but it wasn’t formally introduced until Wednesday evening. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise quickly moved to table her measure, setting the stage for the vote that ended her efforts.
After the vote, Democrats clarified that their rejection of Greene’s motion wasn’t a show of support for Johnson but rather an acknowledgment of his ability to broker compromises and facilitate vital legislative votes.
Greene’s push to oust Johnson stemmed from his backing of a government funding bill that included provisions she viewed as promoting “trans ideology.” Despite her efforts, only two fellow Republicans, Representatives Thomas Massie and Paul Gosar, backed her motion.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed relief at the bipartisan rejection of Greene’s proposal, emphasizing the need to end the chaos in the House for the country’s benefit and the integrity of Congress.
Several Republican colleagues criticized Greene’s actions, with Representative Clay Higgins deeming it a “mistake” and Representative Mike Lawler condemning it as harmful to conservative interests and the nation as a whole.