Topline
The House of Representatives decidedly voted to table—effectively killing—a motion brought by far-right Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene to remove Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., with representatives from both sides rallying to keep the speaker in place.
The House voted 359-43 to save House Speaker Mike Johnson from an effort to vacate the speakership ... [+]
Key Facts
The House voted 359-43 in favor of tabling Greene’s resolution—with nearly 200 Republicans voting to save Johnson.
Only 32 Democrats and 11 Republicans—including Greene and far-right Reps. Chip Roy and Andy Biggs—voted to advance the effort, while seven Democrats voted present, emphasizing the lack of support Greene’s motion had.
Greene originally filed a motion to vacate Johnson in March after he brought a $1.2 trillion government funding package to the floor to avoid a partial government shutdown, but that motion was not “privileged,” meaning there was no timeline to vote before she triggered it Wednesday afternoon and it was abruptly shut down.
Forbes has reached out to Greene’s office and Johnson’s office for comment.
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Crucial Quote
“I appreciate the show of confidence from my colleagues to defeat this misguided effort, that is certainly what it was,” Johnson said after the vote Wednesday evening. “Hopefully, this is the end of the personality politics and the frivolous character assassination that has defined the 118th Congress. It’s regrettable and it’s not who we are as Americans. We’re better than this. We need to get beyond it.”
Key Background
Johnson was elected House speaker after Republicans rallied to oust ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.—who left Congress after he was removed from his position—after he worked across party lines to avoid a government shutdown. And though she initially supported Johnson’s election as speaker, Greene has taken issue with Johnson pushing bills through the House with Democratic support, similar to the complaints made about McCarthy. On the floor before the vote Wednesday, Greene said “Johnson's tenure is defined by one self-serving characteristic: when given a choice between advancing Republican priorities or allied with the Democrats to preserve his own personal power, Johnson regularly chooses to ally himself with Democrats.” Before the vote, House Democrats had said they would not vote to oust Johnson, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., saying House Democrats would continue to push “back against MAGA extremism.”
Surprising Fact
Former President Donald Trump weighed in on the motion to vacate in a post on Truth Social—though slightly after the vote to table it actually happened. He encouraged Republicans to vote to table the motion, suggesting there may be a time to oust Johnson, but it isn’t now. He added he “absolutely loves” Greene, “but if we show DISUNITY, which will be portrayed as CHAOS, it will negatively affect everything!” Trump also said Johnson “is a good man who is trying very hard.”
