House Speaker Mike Johnson faces internal party criticism as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene blasts his leadership and support for Biden’s economic plan.
Yes, MTG is back on Mike Johnson’s back…
At a Glance
- Marjorie Taylor Greene criticizes Speaker Johnson for not securing a GOP supermajority
- Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris by 85 Electoral College votes and leads by 3 million in the popular vote
- Greene blames Johnson for fully passing the Biden-Harris agenda
- Johnson retains Trump’s support, which may help him maintain his position
- Republicans plan to challenge Johnson for the speakership in early January
Greene’s Critique of Johnson’s Leadership
In a surprising turn of events, House Speaker Mike Johnson finds himself under fire from within his own party.
Well, we say surprising…this wouldn’t be the first time this has happened.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has launched a scathing critique of Johnson’s leadership, particularly focusing on his support for President Biden’s economic initiatives. Greene’s comments have exposed a rift within the Republican Party and raised questions about Johnson’s ability to maintain unity among GOP members.
“We should have a major majority, a supermajority,” Marjorie Taylor Greene said. “We don’t have that, I think just based on the performance of this Congress. This Congress has had a lot of failures, in the eyes of our voters and the eyes of the American people.”
Greene’s criticism stems from the recent election results, where Republicans maintained a slim majority in the House. Despite former President Donald Trump’s significant victory over Kamala Harris, with an 85 Electoral College vote lead and a 3 million popular vote advantage, Greene argues that the GOP should have secured a more substantial majority in Congress.
I ran for Congress to take a sledgehammer to the Republican establishment.
Mike Johnson is basically giving the Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries a big hug and a kiss as they share the Speaker’s gavel together.
I refuse to sit idly by as our Speaker in the Republican majority… pic.twitter.com/cfpnoeQVPd
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) May 1, 2024
Johnson’s Support for Biden’s Economic Plan
At the heart of Greene’s displeasure is Johnson’s backing of President Biden’s economic blueprint, a $1.6 trillion spending package. Greene claims this support compromises core conservative values and goes against the mandate given by the American people for Trump’s policies.
“Yes, his leadership, unfortunately. He passed, fully passed, the Biden-Harris agenda,” Marjorie Taylor Greene said.
Greene’s opposition to Johnson’s leadership is not new. In May, she introduced a resolution to remove Johnson as Speaker over his endorsement of a $1.2 trillion spending proposal. She also voiced her disapproval of a $1.6 trillion government funding deal in September, criticizing it for supporting what she referred to as the Green New Deal.
Despite the internal strife, Johnson retains significant backing from President-elect Donald Trump, which could prove crucial for his political survival. During a closed-door meeting with GOP lawmakers, Trump expressed his full support for Johnson’s continued role as Speaker.
“The president-elect said he “100%” backed Johnson during a closed-door meeting with GOP lawmakers on Wednesday.”
Trump’s endorsement comes at a critical time for Johnson, as Republicans plan to challenge his speakership in early January. To retain his position, Johnson needs at least 218 votes, a challenging prospect given the projected Republican control of at least 217 seats. With only five of the remaining undecided races leaning Republican, Johnson’s margin for securing the speakership remains narrow.
As the GOP navigates these internal divisions, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Johnson can effectively counter Greene’s criticisms and maintain party unity.
