Pressure on Mike Johnson is mounting as Republican opposition to a Ukrainian aid package grows.
The House speaker has indicated he will soon put forth a vote on the $95 billion aid package to the war-torn country, which was approved by the Senate last month. During a Fox News interview on Sunday, he suggested a vote on a standalone bill could come soon after Congress returns from its Easter break on April 9.
“We’ve been talking to all the members, especially now over the district work period,” he said. “When we return after this work period, we’ll be moving a product, but it’s going to, I think, have some important innovations.”
This commitment comes despite the ire it is causing among Republicans such as Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who last month introduced a motion to vacate Johnson, criticizing a $1.2 trillion spending bill to fund government agencies.
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Since then, there have been more signs Johnson could be ousted from his role. Speaking on NBC News, Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican who supports further aid to Ukraine, agreed that if Johnson moves to pass the package he could face a vote to oust him.
“It’s possible, I’m not going to deny it,” he said.
“We have one or two people that are not team players. They’d rather enjoy the limelight, the social media,” he said, without naming anyone.
He added that Republicans have a narrow majority in the House so it would not take much dissent to create a standoff. However, he said he believed Democrats would vote it through.
Indeed, with a two-thirds majority needed to pass the package, Democrat support is crucial. But Democrat leadership has not yet indicated whether or not it would support the measure.
Since being elected as speaker of the House in October 2023, Johnson has had to contend with a number of challenges. There has been public dissent from some of his colleagues, who said they are considering moving for a discharge petition against the Louisiana politician, and earlier this month a number of Republicans publicly said they wouldn’t be attending a GOP event aimed at creating party unity.
A number of resignations have also chipped away at the Republican Party’s majority in the House, which may make it difficult for Johnson to maintain his control. The Republicans have 218 seats compared to Democrats’ 213. There are four vacancies, as both parties vie for House control next year.
Newsweek contacted Johnson’s office by email to comment on this story.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.