Staff Reports
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is feeling the heat from fellow GOP firecracker Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) as she thwarts any attempt to provide aid to Ukraine. Greene, known for her unfiltered opinions, is not backing down in her threat to oust Johnson if he dares to push forward with a Ukraine aid bill. Johnson, on the other hand, seems determined to take the plunge and ruffle some feathers within his own party.
Marjorie Taylor Greene holds motion to vacate over Johnson’s head as he considers Ukraine aid.
It sucks when the person you are forced to appease is an absolute fucking idiot.https://t.co/h9IArasZ9h
— Cliff W (@CliffW08950229) April 2, 2024
The simmering tension between Johnson and Greene is reaching boiling point as the debate over assisting Ukraine intensifies. Johnson is gearing up to push for a Ukraine aid bill upon the House’s return to session, a move that has already ignited the ire of some of his Republican compatriots, including Greene. The Georgia representative adamantly opposes any form of assistance to Ukraine and has made her stance clear.
Adding fuel to the fire, Greene has not shied away from brandishing the threat of a motion to vacate, leaving Johnson in a precarious position. In response, Johnson has labeled Greene’s maneuver as a “distraction,” attempting to brush off her warning. However, with the sword of ouster hanging over his head, Johnson’s nonchalance may be short-lived.
Despite the mounting pressure, Johnson is forging ahead with his plans and has even outlined the key provisions he wishes to see in the Ukraine aid proposal. One such provision, which he dubbed the REPO Act, aims to confiscate frozen Russian assets and funnel them to Ukraine to combat the Kremlin’s aggression, a move that Johnson heralded as “pure poetry.” Greene, however, has vehemently opposed such measures, deeming them as unfounded and unrealistic.
As tensions flare and the standoff continues, the prospect of a motion to vacate looms large, but Greene has remained tight-lipped on her breaking point. While Johnson and Greene have engaged in text exchanges, a definitive meeting to address their differences has yet to materialize, leaving the impasse unresolved.
With Johnson steadfast in his determination to advance the Ukraine aid bill and Greene unyielding in her stance against it, the stage is set for a showdown when lawmakers reconvene. As the clock ticks down to the inevitable clash, the dynamics within the GOP are poised for an explosive confrontation that could have far-reaching implications for the party and the nation.
