Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s attempt to remove Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson was overwhelmingly rejected Wednesday in a bipartisan 359-43 vote to table her motion.
Greene followed through on her threat after Johnson pushed through billions in foreign aid, including $61 billion for Ukraine. However, her motion was destined to fail with Republicans holding just a one-seat House majority.
The 43 no votes to block Greene’s measure came from 11 Republicans and 32 Democrats. Both parties aimed to avoid the chaos that erupted when Rep. Kevin McCarthy was ousted as Speaker last October.
Greene was reportedly booed by GOP colleagues on the House floor for her effort. “All of us get to decide how we handle disappointment: productively or destructively. Ms. Greene is choosing destructive,” chided Rep. Dusty Johnson.
Rep. Mike Lawler blasted “Moscow Marjorie” for her “unacceptable tantrum.” Even Rep. Matt Gaetz, who led the push to vacate McCarthy, voted to table Greene’s motion to protect the GOP’s slim majority in an election year.
Former President Trump, though saying he “loves” Greene, wrote her move wasn’t wise with a one-seat majority. “We’re not in a position of voting on a Motion to Vacate…this is not the time,” Trump stated on Truth Social.
After surviving, Speaker Johnson hoped for “the end of the personality politics and frivolous character assassination” defining Congress.
Greene claimed the bipartisan vote proved the Republican “Uniparty” is aligned with Democrats. “I think this is exactly what the American people needed to see,” she said.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats voted to avoid “further chaos” from “extreme MAGA Republicans” like Greene, who are “chaos agents.”
The failed effort follows weeks of GOP infighting over Ukraine aid and budget battles. With a tenuous House majority up for grabs in 2024, the rift between mainstream Republicans and MAGA hardliners appears to be widening.