Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene postponed her motion to oust Mike Johnson from the presidency for another day after the political foes met for more than two hours Monday.
Emerging from the lengthy Capitol Hill meeting, the Georgia Republican said she and fellow Johnson opponent, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., agreed to meet with Johnson again Tuesday morning.
She said she would provide more information about her plans after that meeting.
Asked if she was “withdrawing” the motion to drop the threat, Greene responded, “Let me tell you, I’ve been patient.” I’ve been diligent, I’ve been steady…none of that has changed. I just had a long discussion with the President in his office about ways to move toward a Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., flanked by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., after their meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson
Asked if she was “withdrawing” the motion to drop the threat, Greene responded, “Let me tell you, I’ve been patient.” I’ve been diligent, I’ve been steady…none of that has changed’
It’s unclear what Johnson could have suggested to Greene to get her to renege on her threats. Just days ago, she was determined to bring forward her motion to leave the “privileged” post this week – a move that would force a House vote on whether to keep Johnson as president within two legislative days .
Johnson gave his own update to reporters after the meeting, which he described as “constructive.”
“We discussed some ideas and we’ll see each other tomorrow.”
“I have said it several times, I understand their frustration, I share it. I would really like to advance our conservative politics more on a daily basis, but the reality is that we are working with the smallest majority in American history, by a margin of one vote.
An optimistic Johnson added: “We’re going to keep this team together and continue to work for the American people.”
It is unclear what Johnson might have suggested to Greene to reverse her threats.
Johnson gave his own update to reporters after the meeting, which he described as “constructive.” “We discussed some ideas and we will see each other tomorrow”
Greene first threatened to put Johnson’s job on the chopping block in March when he inaugurated a sprawling $95 billion foreign aid program, including nearly $61 billion for Ukraine as she fights Russia.
Last week, Greene was determined to file her motion to quash this week.
“Next week, I’m going to call this motion to rescind,” Greene announced Wednesday morning.
“I’m absolutely calling it.” “I can’t wait to see Democrats support a Republican president and have to go home for their primaries,” she scoffed a day after Democrats said they would vote against Green’s motion to oust the president , thus deflating his attempt.
“And having to run for Congress again, having supported a Republican president, a Christian conservative, I think that will work well.” I’m excited about it.
She even brought props to her press conference – a MUGA, or Make Ukraine Great Again, hat to salute Johnson for his support for aid to Ukraine, and a photo of the speaker and Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries both holding the hammer.
And last Tuesday night, Johnson fired back at Greene, telling NewsNation that she “doesn’t come across as” a serious lawmaker.
Once again, he brushed aside her threat.
“I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about her,” the speaker said. “I have to do my job, and we do the right thing, and we let the chips fall where they may.” That’s my philosophy. This is how we govern.
Massie, R-Ky., meanwhile, insisted that Greene was the “most serious representative here.”
While many fellow Republicans insisted that throwing the House into chaos in an election year could have political consequences, Greene asserted that it would be Johnson who would lose the majority of House Republicans.
“We won’t get a majority in the House (next year) if we keep Mike Johnson,” she said.
Massie’s attacks also became personal. “Let’s be honest, we have Mike Johnson because no one hated Mike Johnson.”
“Nothing in his previous life, political or private, qualified him for this position,” he continued.
Johnson, the former conference vice president, was the fifth president-elect that Republicans turned to to fill the role after no one else could secure a majority of votes in the House.
“A lot of people have ideas about why he was betrayed, because I think it’s pretty simple: He’s in over his head.”
Massie called Johnson a “lost ball in the long grass” and insisted he was “unequipped to negotiate with Chuck Schumer.”