Gaetz, the representative who led the effort to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker, expressed his support for House Speaker Mike Johnson and stated that he does not want to see him removed from his position. Despite disagreements with Johnson, there seems to be little desire among Republicans to strip him of the gavel. This comes as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a motion to oust Johnson from the speaker’s chair. Greene called it a betrayal of the American people and Republican voters and emphasized the need for a speaker who can negotiate, hold the line, and defend America first.
Gaetz defended Johnson, explaining that removing him could result in a Democrat speaker taking over. He highlighted differences between Johnson and McCarthy on various issues and suggested that instead of ousting Johnson, the focus should be on electing better Republicans. He pointed out that many Republicans opposed the funding bill passed in March and criticized the way it was introduced just before the deadline to avoid a government shutdown.
Despite some discussions of removing Johnson, other Republicans like Tim Burchett and Eli Crane expressed support for keeping him as speaker. They emphasized the importance of being realistic and understanding the challenges facing the GOP. Some Republicans, like Dan Bishop and Chip Roy, also indicated that they do not support ousting Johnson but believe he needs to demonstrate his ability to lead effectively in the future. Johnson is not considering a motion to vacate for the minibus at this time, as he stated in an interview on Fox News. He has faced criticism for delaying the vote on a $95 billion Senate-passed package that includes aid for Ukraine and Israel. Many Republicans, including Johnson, are pushing for stricter border security measures before approving foreign assistance amidst ongoing conflicts. A bipartisan $118 billion package was blocked in the Senate due to disagreements over border provisions. Johnson has introduced bills to provide aid to Israel, but they have faced challenges in both the House and the Senate. Rep. Thomas Massie questioned Johnson’s actions on social media, highlighting concerns over the delay in addressing important issues.
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