Will Mike Johnson be removed as speaker? Marjorie Taylor Greene issues warning over Ukraine aid

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., issued a stark warning for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., this week, cautioning him against an aid package for Ukraine as a growing number of GOP lawmakers sour on giving the country more funding.

Last month, Greene filed a motion to vacate against Johnson. That’s a move that, if passed, could remove him from the speakership. The Georgia lawmaker has publicly criticized Johnson for working with Democrats to avoid a government shutdown, the same act that sparked former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s ouster last year.

The Georgia lawmaker told CNN in an interview published Wednesday that she would potentially vote against any package giving Ukraine additional aid as the country continues to fight against Russia’s invasion. Greene said her position would remain the same even if that aid was tied to additional border and immigration restrictions.

“Let me tell you, when he forces that vote, again, under suspension with no amendments, and funds Ukraine and people find out how angry their constituents are about it, that’s going to move the needle even more,” Greene told CNN, referencing a procedural process in the House known as “suspension."

The move can fast-track legislation, but it raises the bar for the number of votes a bill needs to pass. With Republicans holding a razor-thin majority in the lower chamber, recent bills passed under suspension have required Democratic support.

Will Marjorie Taylor Greene try to remove Mike Johnson over Ukraine aid?

Asked whether Johnson supporting any Ukraine package would cross a line – prompting Greene to push the motion to vacate forward – she told CNN she doesn’t necessarily have a “red line or a trigger.”

“I’m not saying I don’t have a red line or trigger,” she noted. “And I think that’s just where I’m at right now. But I’m going to tell you right now: Funding Ukraine is probably one of the most egregious things that he can do.”

House Republicans’ right flank has grown more and more skeptical of sending aid to Ukraine over the last year, arguing that leaders must first pass legislation to address illegal crossings at the southern border and America’s immigration system. But many of Greene’s Republican colleagues, particularly GOP senators, want to work on immigration and foreign aid issues at the same time.

Greene in the interview with CNN also called Johnson too moderate, saying that “Democrats might be happier with him than they are with (House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries D-N.Y.)”

“There’s not even any daylight between him and Nancy Pelosi at this point,” Greene said, though he was elected to the speakership in part due to his conservative credentials.

How would Mike Johnson be removed as speaker?

It’s not clear yet. Greene didn’t file the motion to remove Johnson as “privileged.” That’s a procedural term that means the House would have to vote within two legislative days.

Congress is currently on a recess, which means lawmakers are at home working with constituents and not in Washington. When they return, Greene’s original push could stall in a congressional committee.

Even if she did file the motion against Johnson as “privileged,” it’s not clear the effort would pass. If all Democrats vote to remove Johnson, Republicans would only need three GOP rebels to oust Johnson.  But Democrats have signaled they might be willing to step in and save Johnson’s job – but it wouldn’t come for free.

They might mandate additional aid to Ukraine or other Democratic priorities in exchange for support.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MTG warns Mike Johnson against Ukraine aid as he faces ouster threat