By Wonderwall.com Editors
6:53am PDT, May 10, 2024
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House Speaker Mike Johnson quickly survived Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's attempt to oust him from his leadership post on May 8 when an overwhelming margin of Democrats and Republicans voted to kill her effort.
Members of the House "heckled," "booed" and "hissed" at Greene as soon as she stood to speak to her colleagues, according to the Washington Post. The far-right leaning Georgia Republican read a litany of "transgressions" she claimed Johnson had made as leader — including passage of the national security bill with aid for Ukraine and his willingness to work with Democrats — as the boos continued.
Greene then slammed Johnson's House leadership as "pathetic, weak and unacceptable" and triggered a vote on her motion to vacate, the Associated Press reported. Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise promptly shut down Greene's plan by moving for a vote to table her motion, which won by a landslide — 359-43. Only 11 Republicans, including Greene, voted in favor of letting her continue with her push to oust Johnson.
After the vote, Greene's Republican colleagues continued to condemn her actions, with some accusing her of having thrown a "tantrum," indulged in "political theater" and more.
Keep reading to see how Johnson, Donald Trump and more political stars reacted…
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"I appreciate the show of confidence from my colleagues to defeat this misguided effort. As I've said from the beginning and I've made clear here every day, I intend to do my job. I intend to do what I believe to be the right thing, which is what I was elected to do, and I'll let the chips fall where they may. In my view, that is leadership. Hopefully this is the end of the personality politics and the frivolous character assassination that has defined the 118th Congress." –House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, speaking to press after the vote
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"Moscow Marjorie has clearly gone off the deep end — maybe the result of a space laser. But this type of tantrum is absolutely unacceptable. And it does nothing to further the cause of the conservative movement. The only people who have stymied our ability to govern are the very people that have pulled these types of stunts throughout the course of this Congress to undermine the House Republican majority. Members in our conference who have continually undermined the Speaker's ability to negotiate … that is why if they're so upset about the things that haven't happened, they should take a look in the mirror, starting with Marjorie Taylor Greene, " –Rep. Mike Lawler of New York, a Republican, speaking to press after the vote
Lawler was referring to Greene's controversial 2018 post suggesting "a laser beam" from space controlled by a wealthy Jewish family caused California's wildfires.
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"I absolutely love Marjorie Taylor Greene. She's got Spirit, she's got Fight, and I believe she'll be around, and on our side, for a long time to come. However, right now, Republicans have to be fighting the Radical Left Democrats, and all the Damage they have done to our Country. However, right now, Republicans have to be fighting the Radical Left Democrats, and all the Damage they have done to our Country. With a Majority of One, shortly growing to three or four, we're not in a position of voting on a Motion to Vacate. At some point, we may very well be, but this is not the time. We are leading in the Presidential Polls by a lot, both Nationally and in the Swing States. Likewise, we are doing well in the Senate, and I believe will do well in the House. But if we show DISUNITY, which will be portrayed as CHAOS, it will negatively affect everything! Mike Johnson is a good man who is trying very hard. I also wish certain things were done over the last period of two months, but we will get them done, together. It is my request that Republicans vote for "THE MOTION TO TABLE." We WILL WIN BIG – AND IT WILL BE SOON!" –Donald Trump on Truth Social
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"Our decision to stop Marjorie Taylor Greene from plunging the House of Representatives and the country into further chaos is rooted in our commitment to solve problems for everyday Americans in a bipartisan manner. We will continue to govern in a reasonable, responsible and results-oriented fashion, and put people over politics all day and every day." –Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the Democratic leader, speaking to press after the vote
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"The past several months have been disappointing. I hoped Republicans would govern like they campaign. We should be able to deliver wins for the American people, even with a slim House majority. As President Trump said, with a one-seat majority and November approaching, now is not the time to be vacating anyone. We need conservative results and we can do better." –Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican, on X
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"I'm proud of myself, because this is the whole reason why I ran for Congress. … I'm sick and tired of the Republican Party that never does what they say they're going to do. I'm tired of them making promises on television. … I'm doing everything I promised my district when I ran for Congress." –Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a Republican, speaking to press after the vote
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"It's a new paradigm in Congress. Nancy Pelosi, and most republicans voted to keep Uniparty Speaker Mike Johnson. These are the eleven, including myself, who voted NOT to save him." –Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Republican, sharing a list of those who voted in favor of Greene's motion, on X
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"She doesn't represent the Republican Party. I'm tired of this being the face or the voice of the party and getting attention. That's all she wants, is the attention." –Rep. Carlos Giménez of Florida, a Republican, speaking to press after the vote
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"Some members would rather upend Republicans' work instead of advancing the conservative agenda. Americans sent us to Washington to govern. The Motion to Vacate attempt was only a headline-grabbing, petty political stunt to distract from our duties and raise money. I'm glad rationality overwhelmingly prevailed, and we can continue the vital work of the American people under @SpeakerJohnson. I like Mike!"–Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas, a Republican, on X
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"Listen, all of us in life get to decide how we handle disappointment. You can be productive or you can be destructive. Ms. Taylor Greene is choosing destructive. She is engaged in a failing act of political theater." –Rep. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, a Republican, speaking to Politico before the vote
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"Amid this circus, House Democrats have been the adults in the room. We have too much work to do to waste time on petty political games."–Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, a Democrat, speaking to press after the vote
