Christian Smith
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Tuesday that he intends to remain in his role going forward, rejecting suggestions that his job could be in jeopardy after the November elections.
“I intend to lead this conference in the future,” Johnson said at a news conference. “And the most important thing we have to do right now is govern the country well – show the American people that we will, and that we will do it, as we have been doing.”
Johnson said his “number one task and responsibility” right now is to win in November and increase his House majority, saying, “That’s my singular focus right now.”
“We have plans for the next Congress and we have already outlined a lot of this. But right now, we’re all hands on deck, we’re all at the helm and steering the ship of state, so to speak, so I’m honored to be able to do this,” he said. “I hope to do that in the future.”
Johnson’s confidence comes amid rising tensions at the House GOP conference, as many conservatives are furious with his leadership style and certain legislative compromises he has reached with Democrats, including aid to Ukraine and a comprehensive government funding bill.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has long floated the threat of an impeachment vote for Johnson, and last week said she would force a floor vote this week on her motion to vacate the resolution. Greene has not said whether she intends to move forward with that plan after a two-hour meeting with Johnson on Monday and plans to meet again on Tuesday.
Greene’s resolution hasn’t gained much traction among hard-line colleagues, with only Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) publicly supporting the effort, but many conservatives still say they agree with many of Greene’s points. concerns.
Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), Chairman of the Freedom Caucus, said now Now is not the time to remove the House speaker, but he suggested a competitive race will take place after the November elections to select a new Republican leader.
“The prudent thing is to do as much as we can to influence the best possible results over the next six months leading up to the election and then hold a House speaker race in November,” Good told reporters last month.
Those supporting Greene’s resolution were even more vocal about the future of Johnson’s leadership.
“We know Mike Johnson won’t win the Republican majority in January,” Massie said last week. “Even our colleagues who are not co-sponsors of this have privately admitted that there is no way they will vote for Mike Johnson to be speaker of the House in January.”
Greene said something similar last month, telling reporters that Johnson “definitely will not be president of the next Congress if we are fortunate enough to have the majority.”
Johnson, however, has been defiant even amid strong backlash from some attendees at his conference.
On Tuesday, he nodded to his support from former President Trump and said party leaders are united in their vision.
“I’m happy to have President Trump’s support. I was with him recently this weekend,” Johnson said at the press conference. “And all of us, the leaders of our party, are united in this cause because our objective and our mission is to save the country.”
During an interview last week with “The Hill” on NewsNation, Johnson suggested he wanted to remain in his post.
“I am doing my duty, as I was called by my colleagues. I will continue to do so as long as we are effective – and I think we have been – and I have big plans for Congress and for the country,” Johnson said when asked if he wants to be president again in 2025.
“I think Donald Trump will win the White House. I think… the Republicans will take back the Senate. And I am convinced that we will increase the majority in the Chamber”, he continued. “We have much important work to do, and I will serve in whatever capacity my colleagues deem appropriate.”
