Rep. Don Bacon warns it's 'possible' Mike Johnson could lose speakership over Ukraine aid
WASHINGTON — Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said Sunday it is “possible” Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., could lose his speakership if he moves to put a Ukraine aid bill on the floor.
“It’s possible. I’m not going to deny it,” said Bacon on NBC’s “Meet the Press” with Kristen Welker. “We have one or two people that are not team - they’re not team players. They’d rather enjoy the limelight, the social media.”
Bacon’s remarks come after Johnson had indicated in a news conference this month that he will address Ukraine aid once the House returns in April, according to Reuters. Some House Democrats told the outlet they could protect Johnson from being ousted if he moves a stalled $95 billion Senate bill to aid Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies.
But some conservative hardliners, such as Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., have opposed such efforts over Ukraine aid. Greene already filed a motion to vacate against Johnson for working with Democrats to fund the government. After she filed the motion, she told reporters that he should not bring funding for Ukraine.
Bacon, who’s been supportive of Ukraine aid, told Welker that he hopes Johnson prevails.
“He’s doing the right thing,” said Bacon. “It’s in our national security interest that Ukraine remain independent.”
House Republicans are already hanging on by a loose threat after Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wisc., announced he was departing Congress, cutting House Republicans’ already razor-thin majority to a one-vote margin.
“It’s a very narrow majority. And one or two people can make us a minority,” said Bacon. “And I got the view, you work with a team. I don’t have to get 100%. 80% as the Ronald Reagan rule, but…we have some people that if they don’t get 100% they want to bring the House down, and it makes us dysfunctional.”
Contributing: Ken Tran, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bacon warns it's 'possible' Johnson to lose speakership over Ukraine
