Republican lawmaker to try to oust US House speaker next week

An extreme right-wing US lawmaker said Wednesday that she plans to introduce a motion next week to oust Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, for backing new aid for Ukraine.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a firebrand Republican congresswoman from Georgia and supporter of former president Donald Trump, accused Johnson of "betrayal."

"Mike Johnson fully joined the disgusting business model of Washington DC to fund forever wars," Greene told reporters. "So next week, I am going to be calling this motion to vacate."

Johnson, in a statement, dismissed her announcement as "wrong for the Republican Conference, wrong for the institution, and wrong for the country."

Under House rules, a single lawmaker can trigger a vote to oust the speaker.

It is unlikely that Johnson will be toppled, however, as Democrats have said they will -- exceptionally -- vote to keep him in his post.

"I can't wait to see Democrats go out and support a Republican speaker," Greene said.

US support for Kyiv has become a major source of controversy in Congress, with a number of far-right Republicans seeking to cut off backing for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

After months of debate and amid pressure from Democrats and US allies, Johnson last week finally backed a new aid package for Ukraine, drawing the ire of some extreme right-wing members of his party.

Former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted several months ago in a similar scenario after being accused by a small faction of Trump supporters of entering into a "secret deal" with Democrats over Ukraine.

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