Marjorie Taylor Greene says outcome ‘up to Mike Johnson’ after threatening his removal

Marjorie Taylor Greene said on Tuesday the outcome of her call to oust Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is now in his hands.

This development comes after the speaker, Ms Greene and her ally Representative Thomas Massie met for some 90 minutes on Tuesday afternoon. They previously met on Monday for over an hour.

After the second meeting, Ms Greene told reporters the ball is in Mr Johnson’s court.

“We will see,” she told reporters. “It is up to Mike Johnson.”

The GOP duo want Mr Johnson to block future Ukraine aid. They also want him to defund Special Counsel Jack Smith’s probes into Donald Trump. Mr Smith is investigating the classified documents case and the 6 January riots. These asks are largely symbolic because the US Senate and President Joe Biden would likely block them.

Before Tuesday’s meeting, Ms Greene told The Independent the speaker has been “working with Democrats the entire time.”

“[The Democrats] are ready to deliver the votes to save his speakership, because they support him because of what he’s delivered for the Democrats and the Biden agenda,” Ms Greene told The Independent.

Key Points

• Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks to The Independent about her fight against Speaker Johnson

• ‘It’s not a negotiation,’ Speaker Johnson says of meeting with MTG

• Why is Marjorie Taylor Greene calling to oust Speaker Mike Johnson?

• Freedom Caucus member gives The Independent his thoughts on ousting effort

• Marjorie Taylor Greene turns her hostage situation into a circus

• Donald Trump wants MTG to stand down: report

Marjorie Taylor Greene meeting with Mike Johnson as she vows to call for his removal

Monday 6 May 2024 16:34 , Katie Hawkinson

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson privately on Monday afternoon, PBS NewsHour’s Lisa Desjardins reports.

Ms Greene, a Georgia Republican, vowed last week to call a vote to remove Mr Johnson from his position. If Ms Greene triggers a “privileged motion” on her motion to vacate, the House will be forced to vote within 48 hours on his removal.

However, Democrats have signalled they will vote to save Mr Johnson if the vote is triggered, meaning he will likely survive.

What is a motion to vacate?

Monday 6 May 2024 16:45 , Katie Hawkinson

Marjorie Taylor Greene plans to call a motion to vacate against Speaker Mike Johnson. If Ms Greene triggers a “privileged motion” on her motion to vacate, the House will be forced to vote within 48 hours on his removal.

Read more about how a motion to vacate works — and how the process was used to oust the last Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy:

What is a motion to vacate? The process Matt Gaetz triggered to oust Kevin McCarthy

Why is Marjorie Taylor Greene calling to oust Speaker Mike Johnson?

Monday 6 May 2024 17:01 , Katie Hawkinson

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, vowed to trigger a vote on Speaker Mike Johnson’s removal this week.

Ms Greene’s efforts to remove the Speaker are supported by Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky. The pair have criticised Mr Johnson’s reliance on and willingness to work with Democrats on passing several bills, including the supplemental foreign aid legislation for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

Read more about Ms Greene’s gripes with Mr Johnson from The Independent’s Washington, DC Bureau Chief, Eric Garcia:

Marjorie Taylor Greene says she’ll trigger no-confidence vote on Johnson next week

Democrats say they would save Republican speaker amid possible effort to oust him

Monday 6 May 2024 17:15 , Katie Hawkinson

House Democrats have announced that they will vote to save Speaker Mike Johnson if far-right Republicans choose to trigger a motion to vacate to remove him.

The motion is being pushed by MAGA Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, but it has struggled to garner support even among some of the Republicans who voted to oust Mr Johnson’s predecessor as speaker, Kevin McCarthy.

Mr Johnson has faced criticism from the right flank of his party after going ahead with a vote to send aid to Ukraine as part of a $95bn foreign aid package that also included funds for Israel and Taiwan.

Read more from Gustaf Kilander and Eric Garcia:

Democrats say they would save Republican speaker amid possible effort to oust him

Representative Thomas Massie backs vow to vote on Mike Johnson ouster

Monday 6 May 2024 17:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, is standing beside Marjorie Taylor Greene and her call to vote on ousting Speaker Mike Johnson this week.

“This week we vote on whether Mike Johnson should remain as Speaker,” Mr Massie wrote on X. “If you’re happy with what he’s done this year and if you’re looking forward to what he will do the remainder of the year, you should join the Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries in supporting Mike Johnson.”

ICYMI: Republican lawmaker doesn’t mince his words about Marjorie Taylor Greene: ‘She is a total waste of time’

Monday 6 May 2024 18:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Republican Senator Thom Tillis called one of his House colleagues a “waste of time”, a bad leader, and a threat to the future of the GOP, according to a recent report.

CNN’s Erin Burnett played an audio recording of the senator trashing Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene during her show on Tuesday.

“I think she’s uninformed, she is a total waste of time,” Mr Tillis says on the recording. “She is a horrible leader. She is dragging our brand down. She – not the Democrats – [is] the biggest risk to us getting back to a majority.”

Ms Greene has frustrated some members of her party by crusading against Mike Johnson, the current speaker of the House. Mr Johnson was installed after Congressman Matt Gaetz led a successful, though extremely unpopular campaign to remove Kevin McCarthy, then-speaker of the House.

Mr Gaetz reportedly moved to have Mr McCarthy replaced because the former speaker agreed with Democrats to pass a vote that would keep the government operating.

Read on:

Republican lawmaker on Marjorie Taylor Greene: ‘She is a total waste of time’

WATCH: Last week, Marjorie Taylor Greene pledged to vacate Speaker Mike Johnson

Monday 6 May 2024 18:30 , Katie Hawkinson

‘We need to get our act together’: GOP representative condemns Greene’s call to oust Johnson

Monday 6 May 2024 19:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, said Marjorie Taylor Greene’s motion to vacate Speaker Mike Johnson can’t succeed.

“We need to get our act together and come together for the betterment of our country...I don't know why she's doing this because the votes aren't there,” Ms Mace said of her colleague on Monday morning. “She's gonna lose the motion to vacate.”

Mike Johnson says he doesn’t know if motion to vacate will be brought today

Monday 6 May 2024 19:30 , Katie Hawkinson

In a brief gaggle with reporters Monday afternoon, Speaker Mike Johnson said he didn’t know if Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene would force a motion to vacate vote today.

“I don’t know,” Mr Johnson said as he walked through the halls of the US Capitol. “I just gotta do my job right now.”

Ms Greene and Mr Johnson are set to have a private meeting in less than one hour.

ICYMI: Three reasons Mike Johnson’s job is safe — and one reason it might not be

Monday 6 May 2024 20:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Read analysis on why Marjorie Taylor Greene’s motion to vacate against Speaker Mike Johnson could fail, from The Independent’s Washington Bureau Chief Eric Garcia:

Three reasons Mike Johnson’s job is safe — and one reason it might not be

Speaker Mike Johnson set to meet with Marjorie Taylor Greene momentarily

Monday 6 May 2024 20:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene is set to meet with Speaker Mike Johnson privately at 3:30pm, PBS NewsHour’s Lisa Desjardins reports.

Ms Greene vowed last week to force a vote to remove Mr Johnson from his role as Speaker of the House. If Ms Greene triggers a privileged motion, the House will be forced to vote within 48 hours.

Marjorie Taylor Greene now in Speaker’s office

Monday 6 May 2024 20:57 , Katie Hawkinson

Marjorie Taylor Greene entered Speaker Mike Johnson’s office just minutes ago, Punchbowl News reports.

She reportedly did not speak to reporters on her way in.

WATCH: Representative Nancy Mace condemns Marjorie Taylor Greene’s efforts to oust Speaker Johnson

Monday 6 May 2024 21:00 , Katie Hawkinson

MTG faces some GOP opposition to her ousting effort

Monday 6 May 2024 21:29 , Katie Hawkinson

Marjorie Taylor Greene is currently meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson after vowing to force a vote to oust him this week.

Amid these rising tensions, some GOP representatives and senators are pushing back against her call.

Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, said Ms Greene won’t succeed.

“We need to get our act together and come together for the betterment of our country...I don’t know why she’s doing this because the votes aren’t there,” Ms Mace said of her colleague on Monday morning.

GOP Senator Thom Tillis called Ms Greene “uninformed” and “a waste of time” last month as she called to oust Mr Johnson.

Democratic leadership also said last week they would vote to save Mr Johnson.

Meeting with Greene, Johnson stretches past one hour mark

Monday 6 May 2024 22:02 , Katie Hawkinson

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and Speaker Mike Johnson have been in a private meeting for more than an hour, according to Fox News’ Chad Pergram.

The pair are meeting after Ms Greene vowed to force a vote to oust Mr Johnson this week.

ANALYSIS: Marjorie Taylor Greene’s exercise in vanity has failed — spectacularly

Monday 6 May 2024 22:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Tuesday should have been the perfect day for Marjorie Taylor Greene to trigger her motion to vacate. It had been more than a week since the House had voted on the foreign aid package that provided assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. That vote allowed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to blast isolationists in the Republican party and gloat at their diminished power. MTG was poised to bite back.

Instead, on Tuesday, Democrats threw House Speaker Mike Johnson a lifeline. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar all said they would join in a motion to table Greene’s motion, specifically citing the right-wing conspiracy theorist from Georgia as their reason for doing so.

Read more analysis from Eric Garcia, Washington, DC Bureau Chief for The Independent:

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s exercise in vanity just failed — spectacularly

Marjorie Taylor Greene ends meeting

Monday 6 May 2024 22:47 , Katie Hawkinson

Marjorie Taylor Greene has ended her meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson.

The two plan to meet again tomorrow, she told reporters waiting outside the Speaker’s office.

ICYMI: What is ‘MUGA,’ and why is Marjorie Taylor Greene using the acronym?

Monday 6 May 2024 23:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene says her fellow representatives will need to choose between “MAGA” or “MUGA” as her attempt to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson moves ahead.

On Wednesday, the right-wing Georgia firebrand, accompanied by fellow right-wing Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, said she will call a privileged motion next week that would trigger an automatic vote within 48 hours over Johnson’s removal.

Ms Greene and Mr Massie criticised Mr Johnson’s reliance on Democrats to pass everything from spending bills to reauthorisation of surveillance legislation and aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. They blasted work between Mr Johnson and Mr Jeffries as a culmination of the “uniparty.””

Ms Greene then brandished a hat that said “MUGA.”

“The uniparty is ‘Make Ukraine Great Again,’” she said. “The uniparty is about funding every single foreign war. They think this is the business model that needs to be done.”

Read more:

Marjorie Taylor Greene says she’ll trigger no-confidence vote on Johnson next week

Mike Johnson says he can ‘get everyone on the same page'

Monday 6 May 2024 23:02 , Katie Hawkinson

Speaker Mike Johnson told Fox News he thinks he can get “everyone on the same page” after meeting with Marjorie Taylor Greene on Monday afternoon.

Ms Greene told reporters the duo plans to meet on Tuesday as well.

Mr Johnson also told Fox News he spoke with former president Donald Trump today amid Ms Greene’s calls for his removal.

What is a motion to vacate?

Tuesday 7 May 2024 00:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Marjorie Taylor Greene plans to call a motion to vacate against Speaker Mike Johnson. If Ms Greene triggers a “privileged motion” on her motion to vacate, the House will be forced to vote within 48 hours on his removal.

Read more about how a motion to vacate works — and how the process was used to oust the last Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy:

What is a motion to vacate? The process Matt Gaetz triggered to oust Kevin McCarthy

WATCH: GOP Representative Nancy Mace condemns Marjorie Taylor Greene’s efforts to oust Speaker Johnson

Tuesday 7 May 2024 01:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Why is Marjorie Taylor Greene calling to oust Speaker Mike Johnson?

Tuesday 7 May 2024 02:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, vowed to trigger a vote on Speaker Mike Johnson’s removal this week.

Ms Greene’s efforts to remove the Speaker are supported by Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky. The pair have criticised Mr Johnson’s reliance on and willingness to work with Democrats on passing several bills, including the supplemental foreign aid legislation for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

Read more about Ms Greene’s gripes with Mr Johnson from The Independent’s Washington, DC Bureau Chief, Eric Garcia:

Marjorie Taylor Greene says she’ll trigger no-confidence vote on Johnson next week

Tuesday 7 May 2024 03:00 , Katie Hawkinson

ICYMI: Republican lawmaker doesn’t mince his words about Marjorie Taylor Greene: ‘She is a total waste of time’

Republican Senator Thom Tillis called one of his House colleagues a “waste of time”, a bad leader, and a threat to the future of the GOP, according to a recent report.

CNN’s Erin Burnett played an audio recording of the senator trashing Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene during her show on Tuesday.

“I think she’s uninformed, she is a total waste of time,” Mr Tillis says on the recording. “She is a horrible leader. She is dragging our brand down. She – not the Democrats – [is] the biggest risk to us getting back to a majority.”

Ms Greene has frustrated some members of her party by crusading against Mike Johnson, the current speaker of the House. Mr Johnson was installed after Congressman Matt Gaetz led a successful, though extremely unpopular campaign to remove Kevin McCarthy, then-speaker of the House.

Read on:

Republican lawmaker on Marjorie Taylor Greene: ‘She is a total waste of time’

ICYMI: Greene faces some GOP opposition to her ousting effort

Tuesday 7 May 2024 04:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Some GOP Congressmembers condemned Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s efforts to oust Speaker Mike Johnson.

Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, said Ms Greene won’t succeed.

“We need to get our act together and come together for the betterment of our country...I don’t know why she’s doing this because the votes aren’t there,” Ms Mace said of her colleague on Monday morning.

GOP Senator Thom Tillis called Ms Greene “uninformed” and “a waste of time” last month as she called to oust Mr Johnson.

Democratic leadership also said last week they would vote to save Mr Johnson.

ICYMI: Marjorie Taylor Greene threatens to trigger motion to vacate Mike Johnson

Tuesday 7 May 2024 05:01 , Katie Hawkinson

ICYMI: Democrats say they would save Republican speaker amid possible effort to oust him

Tuesday 7 May 2024 07:00 , Katie Hawkinson

House Democrats have announced that they will vote to save Speaker Mike Johnson if far-right Republicans choose to trigger a motion to vacate to remove him.

The motion is being pushed by MAGA Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, but it has struggled to garner support even among some of the Republicans who voted to oust Mr Johnson’s predecessor as speaker, Kevin McCarthy.

Mr Johnson has faced criticism from the right flank of his party after going ahead with a vote to send aid to Ukraine as part of a $95bn foreign aid package that also included funds for Israel and Taiwan.

Read more from Gustaf Kilander and Eric Garcia:

Democrats say they would save Republican speaker amid possible effort to oust him

ANALYSIS: Marjorie Taylor Greene’s exercise in vanity has failed — spectacularly

Tuesday 7 May 2024 09:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Last Tuesday should have been the perfect day for Marjorie Taylor Greene to trigger her motion to vacate. It had been more than a week since the House had voted on the foreign aid package that provided assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. That vote allowed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to blast isolationists in the Republican party and gloat at their diminished power. MTG was poised to bite back.

Instead, Democrats threw House Speaker Mike Johnson a lifeline. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar all said they would join in a motion to table Greene’s motion, specifically citing the right-wing conspiracy theorist from Georgia as their reason for doing so.

Read more analysis from Eric Garcia, Washington, DC Bureau Chief for The Independent:

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s exercise in vanity just failed — spectacularly

ICYMI: What is ‘MUGA,’ and why is Marjorie Taylor Greene using the acronym?

Tuesday 7 May 2024 11:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene says her fellow representatives will need to choose between “MAGA” or “MUGA” as her attempt to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson moves ahead.

On Wednesday, the right-wing Georgia firebrand, accompanied by fellow right-wing Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, said she will call a privileged motion next week that would trigger an automatic vote within 48 hours over Johnson’s removal.

Ms Greene and Mr Massie criticised Mr Johnson’s reliance on Democrats to pass everything from spending bills to reauthorisation of surveillance legislation and aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. They blasted work between Mr Johnson and Mr Jeffries as a culmination of the “uniparty.””

Ms Greene then brandished a hat that said “MUGA.”

“The uniparty is ‘Make Ukraine Great Again,’” she said. “The uniparty is about funding every single foreign war. They think this is the business model that needs to be done.”

Read more:

Marjorie Taylor Greene says she’ll trigger no-confidence vote on Johnson next week

Representative Thomas Massie backs vow to vote on Mike Johnson ouster

Tuesday 7 May 2024 12:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, is standing beside Marjorie Taylor Greene and her call to vote on ousting Speaker Mike Johnson this week.

“This week we vote on whether Mike Johnson should remain as Speaker,” Mr Massie wrote on X. “If you’re happy with what he’s done this year and if you’re looking forward to what he will do the remainder of the year, you should join the Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries in supporting Mike Johnson.”

What is a motion to vacate?

Tuesday 7 May 2024 14:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Marjorie Taylor Greene plans to call a motion to vacate against Speaker Mike Johnson. If Ms Greene triggers a “privileged motion” on her motion to vacate, the House will be forced to vote within 48 hours on his removal.

Read more about how a motion to vacate works — and how the process was used to oust the last Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy:

What is a motion to vacate? The process Matt Gaetz triggered to oust Kevin McCarthy

Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Johnson set to meet again

Tuesday 7 May 2024 14:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Georgia Republican Marjorie Talyor Greene and Speaker Mike Johnson will meet for a second time this afternoon.

Yesterday, their meeting lasted more than an hour after Ms Greene vowed to force a vote to remove Mr Johnson from his role as Speaker. If Ms Greene triggers a privileged motion, the House will be forced to vote within 48 hours.

Her demands from Mr Johnson include a guarantee he will not pass more aid for Ukraine and a commitment to defunding Special Counsel Jack Smith’s probes into former president Donald Trump, Punchbowl News reports. Mr Smith’s investigations include the classified documents case and the 6 January 2021 riots probe.

However, these asks are largely symbolic, given the US Senate and President Joe Biden would likely block both of these moves.

ICYMI: GOP Representative Nancy Mace condemns Marjorie Taylor Greene’s efforts to oust Speaker Johnson

Tuesday 7 May 2024 15:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Why are Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Johnson feuding over Ukraine?

Tuesday 7 May 2024 15:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Speaker Mike Johnson has faced criticism from Marjorie Taylor Greene and other far-right Republican representatives after going ahead with a vote to send aid to Ukraine as part of a $95bn foreign aid package that also included funds for Israel and Taiwan.

Now, Ms Greene wants him to commit to not passing any more aid to Ukraine, according to Punchbowl News.

The pair are set to meet for a second time this afternoon.

‘It’s not a negotiation,’ Speaker Johnson says of meeting with MTG

Tuesday 7 May 2024 15:40 , Katie Hawkinson

Speaker Mike Johnson declared that his meetings with Marjorie Taylor Greene and her ally Thomas Massie are “not a negotiation.”

“Yesterday, I met at some length with Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie,” Mr Johnson said at a Tuesday morning press conference. “It was a good discussion, it was productive. We’ll visit again today. It’s not a negotiation.”

Mr Johnson, Ms Greene and Mr Massie all met on Monday afternoon for more than an hour. Ms Greene and Mr Massie are threatening to force a vote on Mr Johnson’s removal this week.

“On an hourly basis, I hear suggestions and thoughts from members,” Mr Johnson continued. “My door is open to members. There’s nothing unusual about this...This is not a negotiation at all.”

“I take Marjorie and Thomas’ ideas, and everyone else’s, equally and we assess them on their own value.”

Who is MTG’s ally, Representative Thomas Massie?

Tuesday 7 May 2024 16:15 , Katie Hawkinson

Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, is joining Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene in calling for Speaker Mike Johnson’s removal.

Mr Massie joined the meeting between Ms Greene and the speaker on Monday. He also opposes US aid to Ukraine, one of the chief complaints Ms Greene has against the speaker.

“This week we vote on whether Mike Johnson should remain as Speaker,” Mr Massie wrote on X. “If you’re happy with what he’s done this year and if you’re looking forward to what he will do the remainder of the year, you should join the Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries in supporting Mike Johnson.”

ICYMI: Democrats say they would save Republican speaker amid possible effort to oust him

Tuesday 7 May 2024 16:30 , Katie Hawkinson

House Democrats have announced that they will vote to save Speaker Mike Johnson if far-right Republicans choose to trigger a motion to vacate to remove him.

The motion is being pushed by MAGA Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, but it has struggled to garner support even among some of the Republicans who voted to oust Mr Johnson’s predecessor as speaker, Kevin McCarthy.

Mr Johnson has faced criticism from the right flank of his party after going ahead with a vote to send aid to Ukraine as part of a $95bn foreign aid package that also included funds for Israel and Taiwan.

Read more from Gustaf Kilander and Eric Garcia:

Democrats say they would save Republican speaker amid possible effort to oust him

Donald Trump wants MTG to stand down: report

Tuesday 7 May 2024 16:33 , Katie Hawkinson

Donald Trump spoke with Marjorie Taylor Greene over the weekend, asking her to step down in her fight to oust Speaker Mike Johnson, Politico reported, citing three GOP members.

Mr Johnson also confirmed to reporters on Monday afternoon he was in touch with the former president.

Ms Greene is demanding the speaker fight to defund Special Counsel Jack Smith’s probes into Mr Trump, Punchbowl News reported.

Mr Smith’s investigations into Mr Trump include the classified documents case and the Capitol riots probe.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie and Mike Johnson set to meet again shortly

Tuesday 7 May 2024 17:01 , Katie Hawkinson

Georgia Republican Marjorie Talyor Greene, her ally Representative Thomas Massie and Speaker Mike Johnson will meet for a second time this afternoon around 12:30 pm local time.

Yesterday, their meeting lasted more than an hour after Ms Greene vowed to force a vote to remove Mr Johnson from his role as Speaker. If Ms Greene triggers a privileged motion, the House will be forced to vote within 48 hours.

Her demands from Mr Johnson include a guarantee he will not pass more aid for Ukraine and a commitment to defunding Special Counsel Jack Smith’s probes into former president Donald Trump, Punchbowl News reports. Mr Smith’s investigations include the classified documents case and the 6 January 2021 riots probe.

However, these asks are largely symbolic, given the US Senate and President Joe Biden would likely block both of these moves.

What is a motion to vacate?

Tuesday 7 May 2024 17:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Marjorie Taylor Greene plans to call a motion to vacate against Speaker Mike Johnson. If Ms Greene triggers a “privileged motion” on her motion to vacate, the House will be forced to vote within 48 hours on his removal.

Read more about how a motion to vacate works — and how the process was used to oust the last Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy:

What is a motion to vacate? The process Matt Gaetz triggered to oust Kevin McCarthy

Marjorie Taylor Greene enters Mike Johnson’s office

Tuesday 7 May 2024 17:36 , Katie Hawkinson

Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie entered Mike Johnson’s office moments ago.

The trio is now conducting their second meeting in less than 24 hours. Yesterday’s talks stretched for more than an hour.

Earlier today, Mr Johnson declared that his meetings with Marjorie Taylor Greene and her ally Thomas Massie are “not a negotiation.”

“Yesterday, I met at some length with Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie,” he said at a Tuesday morning press conference. “It was a good discussion, it was productive. We’ll visit again today. It’s not a negotiation.”

Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks to The Independent about her fight against Speaker Johnson

Tuesday 7 May 2024 17:43 , Katie Hawkinson

The Independent’s Eric Garcia asked Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene if the leaked list of her demands made it harder to reach an agreement with Speaker Mike Johnson — who has dismissed the idea that their talks are a “negotiation.”

“No, he has been working with the Democrats the entire time,” Ms Greene said of Mr Johnson.

“[The Democrats] are ready to deliver the votes to save his speakership, because they support him because of what he’s delivered for the Democrats and the Biden agenda,” she told The Independent. “This is not what Americans voted for — they gave us the majority because they want a Republican agenda. That’s what we’re here to work on.”

The bizarre feud between former allies Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Johnson, explained

Tuesday 7 May 2024 18:15 , Katie Hawkinson

On Tuesday, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and House Speaker Mike Johnson will meet once again as Johnson seeks to talk down Greene’s plans to remove Johnson from his job. Greene would do that by triggering a motion to vacate, effectively turfing him out of the speakership if she can get enough votes in support. How did it come to this?

On the surface, the two should be natural allies. Both are hardline conservatives and ardent supporters of former president Donald Trump. Both voted to object to the 2020 presidential election results after January 6 and both have made a point of criticizing President Joe Biden on immigration policy.

But prior to his ascent as speaker, few people had heard of Johnson — whereas Greene was one of the most visible faces of the pro-MAGA wing of the Republican Party.

Read more from The Independent’s Washington, DC Bureau Chief Eric Garcia:

The bizarre feud between Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Johnson explained

WATCH: Speaker Johnson says meetings with Marjorie Taylor Greene are 'not a negotiation'

Tuesday 7 May 2024 18:45 , Katie Hawkinson

ICYMI: What is ‘MUGA,’ and why is Marjorie Taylor Greene using the acronym?

Tuesday 7 May 2024 19:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene says her fellow representatives will need to choose between “MAGA” or “MUGA” as her attempt to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson moves ahead.

On Wednesday, the right-wing Georgia firebrand, accompanied by fellow right-wing Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, said she will call a privileged motion next week that would trigger an automatic vote within 48 hours over Johnson’s removal.

Ms Greene and Mr Massie criticised Mr Johnson’s reliance on Democrats to pass everything from spending bills to reauthorisation of surveillance legislation and aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. They blasted work between Mr Johnson and Mr Jeffries as a culmination of the “uniparty.””

Ms Greene then brandished a hat that said “MUGA.”

“The uniparty is ‘Make Ukraine Great Again,’” she said. “The uniparty is about funding every single foreign war. They think this is the business model that needs to be done.”

Read more:

Marjorie Taylor Greene says she’ll trigger no-confidence vote on Johnson next week

Marjorie Taylor Greene ends meeting with Speaker Johnson

Tuesday 7 May 2024 19:10 , Katie Hawkinson

The meeting between Speaker Mike Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene and her ally Thomas Massie ended after some 90 minutes on Tuesday afternoon.

Ms Greene largely ignored reporters’ questions after the meeting.

Before the meeting, Ms Greene told The Independent the speaker has been “working with Democrats the entire time.”

“[The Democrats] are ready to deliver the votes to save his speakership, because they support him because of what he’s delivered for the Democrats and the Biden agenda,” she told The Independent.

Freedom Caucus member gives The Independent his thoughts on ousting effort

Tuesday 7 May 2024 19:13 , Katie Hawkinson

Representative Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas and member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, told The Independent he broadly agrees with Marjorie Taylor Greene’s call for change.

“I don’t know her exact laundry list, but in broad terms, yes,” Mr Roy told The Independent just outside the US House chambers. “The American people are not happy.”

He echoed a similar sentiment to Ms Greene, who told The Independent she wants Speaker Mike Johnson gone because he is not honouring voters’ wishes.

“[The Democrats] are ready to deliver the votes to save his speakership, because they support him because of what he’s delivered for the Democrats and the Biden agenda,” Ms Greene told The Independent on Tuesday. “This is not what Americans voted for — they gave us the majority because they want a Republican agenda. That’s what we’re here to work on.”

Democrats brush off Marjorie Taylor Greene’s fight to oust Speaker Johnson

Tuesday 7 May 2024 19:28 , Katie Hawkinson, Eric Garcia

House Democrats who spoke to The Independent brushed off Marjorie Taylor Greene’s fight to oust Speaker Mike Johnson.

“I’ll vote to table it,” Democratic Representative Jim McGovern told The Independent of Ms Greene’s potential motion to vacate.

Meanwhile, Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell did not mince his words when speaking to The Independent about his thoughts on Ms Greene’s fight.

“We're going to be the side that wants to get s*** done, we will be united, we will deliver the votes,” Mr Swalwell told The Independent.

Marjorie Taylor Greene turns her hostage situation into a circus

Tuesday 7 May 2024 20:00 , Eric Garcia

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s ability to suck out the energy of the House and redirect the spotlight on her remained unbowed.

Greene’s meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson was supposed to be an off-ramp from her threatened motion to vacate.

Instead, it gave her more attention.

Ms Greene was joined by fellow conservative insurgent Thomas Massie, who has joined Ms Greene in her efforts to remove Johnson. Also accompanying the right-wing firebrand was Brian Glenn, the host of Right Side Broadcasting Network and her boyfriend.

The huddle between Johnson and Greene went well into votes. The meeting continued to drag on despite the fact that Mr Johnson was set to meet with Abdullah II, the King of Jordan.

‘It’s up to Mike Johnson,’ Marjorie Taylor Greene says

Tuesday 7 May 2024 20:15 , Katie Hawkinson

Marjorie Taylor Greene may be backing off on her threats to force a House vote to oust Speaker Mike Johnson this week.

This development comes after Mr Johnson, Ms Greene and her ally Representative Thomas Massie met for some 90 minutes on Tuesday afternoon.

After the meeting, Ms Greene indicated to reporters the outcome is now in Mr Johnson’s hands.

“We will see,” she said. “It is up to Mike Johnson.”

ICYMI: Donald Trump reportedly wants MTG to stand down

Tuesday 7 May 2024 20:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Donald Trump spoke with Marjorie Taylor Greene over the weekend, asking her to step down in her fight to oust Speaker Mike Johnson, Politico reported, citing three GOP members.

On Tuesday afternoon, Ms Greene said she is in “close contact” with the former president but will not share the details of their conversations.

Mr Johnson also confirmed to reporters on Monday afternoon he was in touch with the former president.

Democrats say they’ll save Johnson from Marjorie Taylor Greene’s ouster attempt: ‘I’ll hold my nose’

Tuesday 7 May 2024 21:00 , Katie Hawkinson, Eric Garcia

House Democrats don’t like the fact that they might have to save House Speaker Mike Johnson. But they are coming to accept they will do it, if it means stopping Johnson from cutting a deal with Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.

On Tuesday, Greene met for more than an hour with the speaker in his office, even as votes began on the House floor and Johnson was set to meet with King Abdullah II of Jordan.

Afterwards, Greene told reporters the outcome lay with the speaker.

“We will see,” she said. “It is up to Mike Johnson.”

Greene filed a motion to vacate the chair, which would trigger a no-confidence vote in Johnson, back in March. Last week, Greene (and Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky) said that she would trigger a vote to oust the speaker after House Democratic leadership said they would consider tabling Greene’s motion to vacate.

But that does not mean Democrats will relish doing so.

“I thought they fell in love again,” Representative Jim McGovern, the top Democrat on the Rules Committees, told The Independent, after the meeting between Johnson and Greene, “and I wouldn’t have to hold my nose and vote not to vacate the chair.”

Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California criticised Greene for seeming wobbly on pushing Johnson out.

“I can just speak for our side — we’re gonna be the side that wants to get s**t done, we’ll be united, we’ll deliver the votes,” he told The Independent. “And as I said, it looks more like a motion to vacillate than a motion to vacate because she can’t decide what she wants to do other than try and be famous.”

Read on:

Democrats say they’ll save Johnson from Marjorie Taylor Greene: ‘I’ll hold my nose’

What is a motion to vacate?

Tuesday 7 May 2024 21:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Marjorie Taylor Greene may call a motion to vacate against Speaker Mike Johnson. If Ms Greene triggers a “privileged motion” on her motion to vacate, the House will be forced to vote within 48 hours on his removal.

Read more about how a motion to vacate works — and how the process was used to oust the last Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy:

What is a motion to vacate? The process Matt Gaetz triggered to oust Kevin McCarthy

ICYMI: Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks to The Independent about her fight against Speaker Johnson

Tuesday 7 May 2024 22:00 , Katie Hawkinson

The Independent’s Eric Garcia asked Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene if the leaked list of her demands made it harder to reach an agreement with Speaker Mike Johnson — who has dismissed the idea that their talks are a “negotiation.”

“No, he has been working with the Democrats the entire time,” Ms Greene said of Mr Johnson.

“[The Democrats] are ready to deliver the votes to save his speakership, because they support him because of what he’s delivered for the Democrats and the Biden agenda,” she told The Independent. “This is not what Americans voted for — they gave us the majority because they want a Republican agenda. That’s what we’re here to work on.”

What are GOP members saying about Greene’s ouster?

Tuesday 7 May 2024 22:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Some GOP members are brushing off Marjorie Taylor Greene’s efforts to oust Speaker Mike Johnson if he does not agree to her demands.

Representative Mike Lawler, a Republican from New York who represents a district that voted for President Joe Biden, laughed off the motion to vacate as a stunt.

“I just don’t care, it’s so stupid,” he told The Independent.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina called Greene “uninformed” and “a waste of time” last month when she called to oust Johnson the first time.

But some fellow far-right representatives are happy to see Greene standing up to the speaker.

Representative Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas and member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, said on Tuesday that he broadly agrees with Marjorie Taylor Greene’s call for change.

“I don’t know her exact laundry list, but in broad terms, yes,” Roy told The Independent just outside the US House chambers. “The American people are not happy.”

VIDEO: Marjorie Taylor Greene exits second meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson

Tuesday 7 May 2024 23:00 , Katie Hawkinson

‘It’s up to Mike Johnson,’ Marjorie Taylor Greene says

Wednesday 8 May 2024 00:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Marjorie Taylor Greene may be backing off on her threats to force a House vote to oust Speaker Mike Johnson this week.

This development comes after Mr Johnson, Ms Greene and her ally Representative Thomas Massie met for some 90 minutes on Tuesday afternoon.

After the meeting, Ms Greene indicated to reporters the outcome is now in Mr Johnson’s hands.

“We will see,” she said. “It is up to Mike Johnson.”

ICYMI: Donald Trump reportedly wants MTG to stand down

01:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Donald Trump spoke with Marjorie Taylor Greene over the weekend, asking her to step down in her fight to oust Speaker Mike Johnson, Politico reported, citing three GOP members.

On Tuesday afternoon, Ms Greene said she is in “close contact” with the former president but will not share the details of their conversations.

Mr Johnson also confirmed to reporters on Monday afternoon he was in touch with the former president.

ICYMI: Freedom Caucus member gives The Independent his thoughts on ousting effort

02:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Representative Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas and member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, told The Independent he broadly agrees with Marjorie Taylor Greene’s call for change.

“I don’t know her exact laundry list, but in broad terms, yes,” Mr Roy told The Independent just outside the US House chambers. “The American people are not happy.”

He echoed a similar sentiment to Ms Greene, who told The Independent she wants Speaker Mike Johnson gone because he is not honouring voters’ wishes.

“[The Democrats] are ready to deliver the votes to save his speakership, because they support him because of what he’s delivered for the Democrats and the Biden agenda,” Ms Greene told The Independent on Tuesday. “This is not what Americans voted for — they gave us the majority because they want a Republican agenda. That’s what we’re here to work on.”

Marjorie Taylor Greene spoke to The Independent about her fight against Speaker Johnson

03:00 , Katie Hawkinson

The Independent’s Eric Garcia asked Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene if the leaked list of her demands made it harder to reach an agreement with Speaker Mike Johnson — who has dismissed the idea that their talks are a “negotiation.”

“No, he has been working with the Democrats the entire time,” Ms Greene said of Mr Johnson.

“[The Democrats] are ready to deliver the votes to save his speakership, because they support him because of what he’s delivered for the Democrats and the Biden agenda,” she told The Independent. “This is not what Americans voted for — they gave us the majority because they want a Republican agenda. That’s what we’re here to work on.”

After the meeting, Ms Greene told reporters the ultimate outcome was up to Mr Johnson

What is ‘MUGA,’ and why is Marjorie Taylor Greene using the acronym?

04:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene says her fellow representatives will need to choose between “MAGA” or “MUGA” as her attempt to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson moves ahead.

On Wednesday, the right-wing Georgia firebrand, accompanied by fellow right-wing Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, said she will call a privileged motion next week that would trigger an automatic vote within 48 hours over Johnson’s removal.

Ms Greene and Mr Massie criticised Mr Johnson’s reliance on Democrats to pass everything from spending bills to reauthorisation of surveillance legislation and aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. They blasted work between Mr Johnson and Mr Jeffries as a culmination of the “uniparty.”

Ms Greene then brandished a hat that said “MUGA.”

“The uniparty is ‘Make Ukraine Great Again,’” she said. “The uniparty is about funding every single foreign war. They think this is the business model that needs to be done.”

Read more:

Marjorie Taylor Greene says she’ll trigger no-confidence vote on Johnson next week

ICYMI: Marjorie Taylor Greene turned her hostage situation into a circus

05:01 , Eric Garcia

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s ability to suck out the energy of the House and redirect the spotlight on her remained unbowed.

Greene’s meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson was supposed to be an off-ramp from her threatened motion to vacate.

Instead, it gave her more attention.

Ms Greene was joined by fellow conservative insurgent Thomas Massie, who has joined Ms Greene in her efforts to remove Johnson. Also accompanying the right-wing firebrand was Brian Glenn, the host of Right Side Broadcasting Network and her boyfriend.

The huddle between Johnson and Greene went well into votes. The meeting continued to drag on despite the fact that Mr Johnson was set to meet with Abdullah II, the King of Jordan.

WATCH: Marjorie Taylor Greene spoke to The Independent about her fight against Speaker Johnson

06:00 , Katie Hawkinson

The bizarre feud between former allies Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Johnson, explained

07:00 , Katie Hawkinson

On Tuesday, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and House Speaker Mike Johnson will meet once again as Johnson seeks to talk down Greene’s plans to remove Johnson from his job. Greene would do that by triggering a motion to vacate, effectively turfing him out of the speakership if she can get enough votes in support. How did it come to this?

On the surface, the two should be natural allies. Both are hardline conservatives and ardent supporters of former president Donald Trump. Both voted to object to the 2020 presidential election results after January 6 and both have made a point of criticizing President Joe Biden on immigration policy.

But prior to his ascent as speaker, few people had heard of Johnson — whereas Greene was one of the most visible faces of the pro-MAGA wing of the Republican Party.

Read more from The Independent’s Washington, DC Bureau Chief Eric Garcia:

The bizarre feud between Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Johnson explained

ICYMI: What is ‘MUGA,’ and why is Marjorie Taylor Greene using the acronym?

08:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene says her fellow representatives will need to choose between “MAGA” or “MUGA” as her attempt to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson moves ahead.

On Wednesday, the right-wing Georgia firebrand, accompanied by fellow right-wing Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, said she will call a privileged motion next week that would trigger an automatic vote within 48 hours over Johnson’s removal.

Ms Greene and Mr Massie criticised Mr Johnson’s reliance on Democrats to pass everything from spending bills to reauthorisation of surveillance legislation and aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. They blasted work between Mr Johnson and Mr Jeffries as a culmination of the “uniparty.””

Ms Greene then brandished a hat that said “MUGA.”

“The uniparty is ‘Make Ukraine Great Again,’” she said. “The uniparty is about funding every single foreign war. They think this is the business model that needs to be done.”

Read more:

Marjorie Taylor Greene says she’ll trigger no-confidence vote on Johnson next week

ICYMI: Freedom Caucus member gives The Independent his thoughts on ousting effort

09:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Representative Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas and member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, told The Independent he broadly agrees with Marjorie Taylor Greene’s call for change.

“I don’t know her exact laundry list, but in broad terms, yes,” Mr Roy told The Independent just outside the US House chambers. “The American people are not happy.”

He echoed a similar sentiment to Ms Greene, who told The Independent she wants Speaker Mike Johnson gone because he is not honouring voters’ wishes.

“[The Democrats] are ready to deliver the votes to save his speakership, because they support him because of what he’s delivered for the Democrats and the Biden agenda,” Ms Greene told The Independent on Tuesday. “This is not what Americans voted for — they gave us the majority because they want a Republican agenda. That’s what we’re here to work on.”

What is a motion to vacate?

10:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Marjorie Taylor Greene may call a motion to vacate against Speaker Mike Johnson. If Ms Greene triggers a “privileged motion” on her motion to vacate, the House will be forced to vote within 48 hours on his removal.

Read more about how a motion to vacate works — and how the process was used to oust the last Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy:

What is a motion to vacate? The process Matt Gaetz triggered to oust Kevin McCarthy

WATCH: Marjorie Taylor Greene exits second meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson

11:00 , Katie Hawkinson

The bizarre feud between former allies Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Johnson, explained

12:00 , Katie Hawkinson

On Tuesday, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and House Speaker Mike Johnson will meet once again as Johnson seeks to talk down Greene’s plans to remove Johnson from his job. Greene would do that by triggering a motion to vacate, effectively turfing him out of the speakership if she can get enough votes in support. How did it come to this?

On the surface, the two should be natural allies. Both are hardline conservatives and ardent supporters of former president Donald Trump. Both voted to object to the 2020 presidential election results after January 6 and both have made a point of criticizing President Joe Biden on immigration policy.

But prior to his ascent as speaker, few people had heard of Johnson — whereas Greene was one of the most visible faces of the pro-MAGA wing of the Republican Party.

Read more from Eric Garcia:

The bizarre feud between Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Johnson explained

What are GOP members saying about Greene’s ouster?

13:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Some GOP members are brushing off Marjorie Taylor Greene’s efforts to oust Speaker Mike Johnson if he does not agree to her demands.

Representative Mike Lawler, a Republican from New York who represents a district that voted for President Joe Biden, laughed off the motion to vacate as a stunt.

“I just don’t care, it’s so stupid,” he told The Independent.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina called Greene “uninformed” and “a waste of time” last month when she called to oust Johnson the first time.

But some fellow far-right representatives are happy to see Greene standing up to the speaker.

Representative Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas and member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, said on Tuesday that he broadly agrees with Marjorie Taylor Greene’s call for change.

“I don’t know her exact laundry list, but in broad terms, yes,” Roy told The Independent just outside the US House chambers. “The American people are not happy.”

Democrats say they’ll save Johnson from Marjorie Taylor Greene’s ouster attempt: ‘I’ll hold my nose’

14:00 , Katie Hawkinson, Eric Garcia

House Democrats don’t like the fact that they might have to save House Speaker Mike Johnson. But they are coming to accept they will do it, if it means stopping Johnson from cutting a deal with Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.

On Tuesday, Greene met for more than an hour with the speaker in his office, even as votes began on the House floor and Johnson was set to meet with King Abdullah II of Jordan.

Afterwards, Greene told reporters the outcome lay with the speaker.

“We will see,” she said. “It is up to Mike Johnson.”

Greene filed a motion to vacate the chair, which would trigger a no-confidence vote in Johnson, back in March. Last week, Greene (and Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky) said that she would trigger a vote to oust the speaker after House Democratic leadership said they would consider tabling Greene’s motion to vacate.

But that does not mean Democrats will relish doing so.

“I thought they fell in love again,” Representative Jim McGovern, the top Democrat on the Rules Committees, told The Independent, after the meeting between Johnson and Greene, “and I wouldn’t have to hold my nose and vote not to vacate the chair.”

Read on:

Democrats say they’ll save Johnson from Marjorie Taylor Greene: ‘I’ll hold my nose’

WATCH: Marjorie Taylor Greene spoke to The Independent about her fight against Speaker Johnson

15:00 , Katie Hawkinson

ICYMI: ‘It’s up to Mike Johnson,’ Marjorie Taylor Greene said Tuesday

16:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Marjorie Taylor Greene may be backing off on her threats to force a House vote to oust Speaker Mike Johnson this week.

This development came after Mr Johnson, Ms Greene and her ally Representative Thomas Massie met for some 90 minutes on Tuesday afternoon.

After the meeting, Ms Greene indicated to reporters the outcome is now in Mr Johnson’s hands.

“We will see,” she said. “It is up to Mike Johnson.”