UPDATE: Johnson Ouster Gains Steam, “He Should Pre-Announce His Resignation,” Says Congressman

STOP funding foreign countries Mr. Speaker—that’s the message hardline freedom caucus conservatives are sending to Speaker Mike Johnson.

Johnson’s Speakership has come under threat from Marjorie Taylor Greene’s motion to vacate. The motion against Johnson was filed after he helped to facilitate massive spending packages for several foreign countries.

Calls to remove Johnson are now growing, and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) recently announced that he is cosponsoring Greene’s motion. The lawmaker stated on social media:

“I just told Mike Johnson in conference that I’m cosponsoring the Motion to Vacate that was introduced by
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

He should pre-announce his resignation (as Boehner did), so we can pick a new Speaker without ever being without a GOP Speaker.” Here’s more on the story:

I just told Mike Johnson in conference that I’m cosponsoring the Motion to Vacate that was introduced by @RepMTG.

He should pre-announce his resignation (as Boehner did), so we can pick a new Speaker without ever being without a GOP Speaker.

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) April 16, 2024

🚨Breaking: Rep. Thomas Massie joined Marjorie Taylor Greene in a motion to vacate Speaker Mike Johnson:

"I asked him to resign. The motion is going to get called and then he's going to lose more votes than Kevin McCarthy." pic.twitter.com/4SJbfI5Aor

— Real Mac Report (@RealMacReport) April 16, 2024

Read my letter to my Republican colleagues explaining my decision to file a motion to vacate Speaker Johnson (🧵)

Dear Colleague,

Before we left for Easter break, I filed a motion to vacate Speaker Mike Johnson after he passed the second minibus, H.Res.1102, which funded the… pic.twitter.com/bCC7MQ4DMq

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) April 9, 2024

The Epoch Times provided background context for Johnson’s attempted ouster:

Mr. Massie’s announcement comes one day after Mr. Johnson announced that the House would take up four bills to give assistance to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, in addition to legislation to ban TikTok and seize frozen Russian assets and convert that into aid for Kyiv.

Mike Johnson responded to the growing calls against him: “I am not resigning, and it is, in my view, an absurd notion that someone would bring a vacate motion when we are simply here trying to do our jobs. … It is not helpful to the country. It does not help the House Republicans advance our agenda.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA): “I am not resigning, and it is, in my view, an absurd notion that someone would bring a vacate motion when we are simply here trying to do our jobs. … It is not helpful to the country. It does not help the House Republicans advance our agenda.” pic.twitter.com/U0YONJ8AAd

— The Recount (@therecount) April 16, 2024

Max Burns, over at The Hill, pointed out in his op-ed:

“Just 38 percent of Republican insiders view Johnson as an effective Speaker.

Last month long-time North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry openly questioned Johnson’s fitness for the job.

Even Johnson allies seem wary of the Speaker’s recent string of high-profile legislative fumbles.”