After meetings with Speaker Mike Johnson, Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie appear to be stepping back from their push for a vote to remove him from office.
Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) seem to be relenting in their efforts to force a vote on ousting Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) this week.
The pair met with Johnson for a second time on Tuesday, following a two-hour meeting on Monday, during which they presented a list of demands, including a pledge to halt aid to Ukraine and defund the investigation into former President Trump.
After the meeting, Greene told reporters that "the ball is in Mike Johnson's court" and that Johnson "understands that he's got to be our Republican Speaker of the House."
However, Greene and Massie declined to provide specific details on how they planned to move forward or if they would meet with Johnson again.
Massie indicated that Johnson should either address their concerns promptly or face a vote on his removal, saying, "If his plan is to drag this out until the pressure comes off of this, and to drag it out for weeks or days without making some movement in our direction, then he would just be far better off to have this vote and get it behind him."
Johnson, who has met with Greene and Massie twice in the past two days, said that they were "talking through ideas and suggestions," which he does with all members regularly.
Greene, Massie, and Representative Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) are the only Republicans actively pushing to oust Johnson, citing concerns about his handling of foreign aid and government spending. They have accused Johnson of being too accommodating to the Democrat-controlled White House and Senate and not fighting hard enough for GOP priorities.
Johnson has emphasized that he operates with a historically slim majority and that he is in control of only one-third of the government.
The brewing conflict reflects the simmering discontent among conservatives who feel marginalized by Johnson's leadership. Their concerns have escalated in recent weeks, leading to the push for a vote on Johnson's removal.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Johnson can appease Greene, Massie, and Gosar and maintain his position as Speaker, or if a vote on his ouster will be forced. The outcome of this internal power struggle will have significant implications for the Republican Party and the legislative agenda for the coming year.
