Johnson tries to avoid ouster by own party as speaker

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is on shaky ground in Congress, with a slim GOP majority and a looming threat to oust him from the Speaker’s chair.

“We have the smallest majority in U.S. history, we’ve got a one vote margin right now,” Johnson said.

The Speaker is at odds with conservatives in his own party, led by Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). She filed a motion to remove him from the speaker’s office last month, after Johnson allowed a vote on the government funding bill that passed thanks to Democratic support.

But Greene has not yet pushed for a formal vote on his leadership.

“I haven’t given a red line,” Johnson said.

Other clashes were on display this week.

Nineteen House Republicans broke with the Speaker and voted to derail a reauthorization of the FISA National Security Surveillance Program.

If Johnson, as he has promised, brings Ukraine aid to the floor, that could be the last straw for conservatives.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) says Congress should move to pass Ukraine aid soon.

“Enough. The world is on fire,” Jeffries said.

Jeffries says surprisingly, some Democrats might consider coming to the rescue of the Republican speaker.

“I believe there are a reasonable number of Democrats who don’t want to see the Speaker fall as a result of doing the right thing. Observation, not a declaration,” Jeffries said.

As Speaker Johnson works to shore up support in his own party, he’ll be visiting former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago Friday for an “election integrity” event.

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