Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's monthlong campaign to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson has faltered, highlighting the political conundrum the Georgia Republican finds herself in as she struggles to maintain credibility amid dwindling support from her allies. Despite repeated threats to call a vote on removing Johnson from the speakership, Greene has yet to follow through on her promises, leading some lawmakers to question her strategy and influence.
Greene's efforts to remove Johnson began in March when she filed a "motion to vacate" against the speaker, a process that could forcibly remove him from his position. However, her push has gained little traction, with opposition coming not only from the majority of House Republicans but also from ultraconservatives and House Democrats.
Rep. Mark Alford, R-Texas, expressed his doubts about Greene's approach, telling USA TODAY, "I don't know the strategy behind her. I know she's frustrated ... I just don't think that's the way to go about getting the results you want, but that's up to Marjorie."
The lack of action on Greene's part has led to criticism from fellow lawmakers. Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, warned, "If she doesn't (do it), I'll tell you right now, I think she loses a lot of credibility in a lot of people's eyes. It's like the boy who cried wolf, do it or don't do it."
Greene's influence appears to be waning, with Rep. John Duarte, R-Calif., stating that her push "utterly collapsed" and that "she's not influencing anything." Even former President Donald Trump, a longtime ally of Greene, has defended Speaker Johnson and advised her to focus on getting things done rather than causing a distraction, according to Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont.
In an attempt to salvage her campaign, Greene, along with Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., met with Speaker Johnson on Monday to outline a set of demands that could potentially appease her. These demands included a commitment to no further U.S. aid to Ukraine, defunding special counsel investigations into Trump, bringing legislation to the floor only with majority Republican support, and automatic spending cuts if Congress fails to pass a full set of spending bills.
However, the ambiguity of Greene's demands and the lack of specific bills or timelines have led some members to speculate that she is simply looking for an off-ramp to avoid a public defeat on the House floor. Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y., likened the situation to a "horrible syndicated TV series that just won't come to an end," but added that "it sounds like we're in the final throes of cancellation and the season finale."
Speaker Johnson, for his part, has remained unfazed by Greene's threats. When told that Greene wanted a quick answer to her demands, Johnson seemed to roll his eyes and crack a smile, stating, "We're gonna process these ideas just like all ideas and all input from members."
The long period of time that has elapsed since Greene first announced her plans to oust Johnson has not only eroded her credibility but also raised questions about her future political prospects. As one anonymous insider from Trumpland put it, Greene's grandstanding has been "one hundred percent distraction. Unwanted. And just stupid."
With barely anyone on Capitol Hill supporting her efforts and her allies distancing themselves from her campaign, Greene finds herself in a precarious position. As the 2024 elections approach, Republicans are focused on flipping the Senate and expanding their majority in the House, goals that require party unity rather than internal strife.
