Mike Johnson Takes the High Road in Responding to Marjorie Taylor Greene

House Speaker Mike Johnson only had kind words to say about Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene when asked about the Georgia lawmaker’s push to have him ousted from his leadership position.

Greene, a Republican, last month introduced a motion to vacate Johnson after the speaker worked across the aisle to put forth a $1.2 trillion spending bill that spared the federal government from a partial shutdown. Johnson has faced heavy criticism from some of the more conservative members of the House as the GOP remains divided on spending issues, such as authorizing additional military assistance to Ukraine.

Greene has also repeatedly attacked Johnson publicly, claiming that he is as Democratic as Congresswoman and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and bringing Johnson’s Christian faith into question on several occasions.

But speaking with reporters on Thursday, Johnson took the high road when responding to Greene’s comments, saying, “I respect Marjorie. She will always have an open door to the speaker’s office.”

“We do have honest differences on strategy sometimes but share the same conservative beliefs,” Johnson continued, according to a report from CNN congressional correspondent Manu Raju. “In spite of our Republican majority of just a single seat in just one chamber of Congress, we are still fighting this administration every day to make policy changes. A shutdown would not serve our party or assist us in our mission of saving the republic by growing our majority, nor will another motion to vacate.”

“As I have always said, national security starts at our southern border,” the speaker continued. “Any funding of [President Joe Biden’s] supplemental request should be premised on meaningful policy to help the American people and finally address the invasion at our southern border.”

Newsweek reached out to Greene’s office via email for comment on Thursday night.

Greene also suggested this week while speaking to conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that Johnson showed signs of being “blackmailed,” claiming that he had “completely changed his character in a matter of about five months after he has become speaker of the House.”

There has not been any evidence to substantiate Greene’s claim, and Newsweek reached out to Johnson’s office via email for comment.

Greene also spoke with Raju on Wednesday on her efforts to oust Johnson, telling the reporter that she is “not backing off at all” on her push. Greene specifically warned that any move from Johnson on pushing a Ukraine package would “move the needle,” adding, “Funding Ukraine is probably one of the most egregious things that he can do.”