Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., is pulling back on her threat to bring a motion to vacate against Mike Johnson, R-La., this week at least, after another meeting Tuesday afternoon with the House speaker.
However, she maintains she'll hold onto the ouster threat indefinitely, telling reporters that "right now the ball is in Mike Johnson's court."
"I will tell you one thing I did say in there: I am so done with words," Greene told reporters on the House steps after meeting with Johnson. "For me, it is all about actions."
Her comments came hours after Johnson said he was "glad to have the support of [former] President [Donald] Trump," who has reportedly been mediating the impasse between Johnson and Greene, though Trump was not part of Monday's meeting, Johnson said. With that as the backdrop, Johnson also said he would seek the speakership after November's election.
Greene acknowledged she spoke with Trump on her efforts to oust Johnson but would not comment on details of their conversation. Trump reportedly told her he wants the party unified ahead of November and not to forge ahead with a motion to vacate. Trump also publicly praised Johnson over the weekend.
Greene is without leverage. Only GOP Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., are backing her threat, and the Democratic caucus reiterated Tuesday that her effort to oust Johnson "will not be successful."
"We want to turn the page, we want to put this behind us," Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., said Tuesday.
No Trump, no Democrats, and two Republicans on Greene's ledger. Further, Johnson made it clear Tuesday morning that his two meetings with Greene on Monday and the one that would come hours later were "not a negotiation at all."
Regardless, Greene shared her list of demands for Johnson ahead of Tuesday's 90-minute meeting:
- No more Ukraine aid;
- Defund special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into Trump;
- No legislation brought for floor vote without support of majority of majority party;
- Passage of continuing resolution before election with 1% automatic spending cut.
Johnson on Tuesday didn't rule out defunding Smith.
"These are not complicated things that we're talking about, and having the majority of Republicans support for bills that are brought to the floor. Yeah, that's very reasonable," Greene said. "It's really simple. It's up to Mike Johnson to be our Republican speaker. And we'll see what he does. And again, it's actions for me."
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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