Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) made an announcement on Tuesday that he will be joining as a co-sponsor for a resolution that aims to remove Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) from his position as the House’s leader.
During a closed-door conference meeting, Massie informed his colleagues that he intends to co-sponsor the motion to vacate resolution filed by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), as revealed by three GOP lawmakers present. This makes Massie the first lawmaker to publicly support Greene’s initiative.
Massie made his announcement within 24 hours of Johnson revealing his plan to pass foreign aid in the House. Johnson’s plan involves voting on three bills to provide assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as a fourth measure addressing other national security priorities.
However, Johnson made a change in his stance this time. Unlike before, he did not incorporate border security provisions into the plan. This move came after months of Republicans, including the Speaker, insisting that any aid for Ukraine should be accompanied by legislation addressing the situation at the southern border. As a result, this decision faced strong opposition from conservatives.
In a conversation with reporters following Tuesday’s meeting, Massie explained his support for the ouster effort by referring to Johnson’s actions. He specifically mentioned Johnson’s decision to bring Ukraine aid to the floor, as well as his handling of government funding and the reauthorization of the U.S.’s warrantless surveillance authority.
Massie said that the only person capable of preventing them from revisiting the events of last fall was Mike Johnson. He was referring to the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October.
“He’s obviously cleaning the barn,” he continued, “He had three tasks: to create an omnibus that shattered all spending records, to implement FISA without warrants, and now he’s focused on Ukraine. These are the three priorities. There are individuals pressuring him relentlessly, not caring about the consequences of pushing him too hard—I do, because it will throw our conference into chaos.”
During the closed-door conference meeting, the Kentucky Republican made a request to Johnson, asking him to step down from the Speakership. However, the Louisiana Republican declined the request.
Johnson dismissed the escalating campaign to remove him as “absurd” in his response on Tuesday.
“I have no intention of resigning, and I find it absolutely ridiculous to suggest that someone would propose a motion for me to vacate my position while we are here fulfilling our responsibilities,” Johnson stated firmly during a press conference held at the Capitol. “This kind of action does not contribute to the greater cause, nor does it serve the best interests of our country. It hinders House Republicans’ efforts to promote our agenda, which focuses on crucial matters like securing our borders and ensuring effective governance. Furthermore, it undermines the unity we have worked hard to establish within our organization.”
Both Greene and Massie have not disclosed their plans regarding when they will initiate a vote on the motion-to-vacate resolution. However, given the backing of these conservative representatives, it is highly probable that Johnson will require support from the Democrats in order to retain his position as Speaker, if and when the matter is brought up for discussion.
Republicans are currently in a position where they can only afford to lose two GOP lawmakers on any party-line votes. However, this edge will decrease to one after Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) resigns at the end of the week.
A number of Democrats have recently expressed their willingness to support Johnson in his decision to bring Ukraine aid to the floor.
Several Democrats are refraining from giving their opinion on Johnson’s foreign aid plan until the actual text of the legislation is made public.
Massie expressed his belief that if the proposal is put to a vote, it would receive significant support from the public.
Many Republicans, on the other hand, strongly condemned the increasing pressure, stating that it would have detrimental effects on the nation.
“I have great respect for Thomas, but I hold a different opinion on this matter,” expressed Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a staunch conservative. He further added, “While I may not agree with some of the decisions made by the Speaker, I firmly believe that removing him from his position is not in the best interest of our country. Thomas is an individual of integrity, and despite our disagreements, I would not subject the nation to the turmoil that such a move would create. Therefore, I am opposed to this idea.”
Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) criticized the motion, stating that it was “dead wrong.” Meanwhile, Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) expressed his inability to support the motion, arguing that there is currently no suitable replacement for Johnson within the GOP conference.
“If we’re going to address a concern about Mike Johnson, it’s essential to have a viable solution in mind. So, who else would we consider for the role? If not him, then who? Who possesses the capabilities to effectively manage this conference?” Nehls questioned. “I just left a room full of individuals, and I couldn’t identify anyone capable of handling this conference.”
Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) confidently told reporters that if a vote were to be compelled on the resolution for ouster, it would not succeed on the floor.
According to Graves, the current government is a loose coalition, making it unlikely for any new individual to garner a majority of votes. Therefore, he believes that people will not proceed with the decision at this time.
“It’s not in our best interest to do it. I believe that the painful scars we endured last year are still fresh in people’s minds,” he explained. “This will likely discourage individuals from initiating a motion to vacate.”
