Second Republican threatens to fire Shreveport Speaker Mike Johnson as he seeks foreign aid

A second Republican has joined Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene in the threat to fire House Speaker Mike Johnson of Shreveport as he lays out a plan to provide funding to allies Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine this week and likely needs the Democrats' help to make it happen,

Republican Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie announced Tuesday in a post on his X account that he has co-sponsored Greene's motion to vacate that she filed last month against Johnson.

"I just told Mike Johnson in conference that I'm co-sponsoring the Motion to Vacate that was introduced by @RepMTG," Massie said in his post. "He should pre-announce his resignation (as Boehner did), so we can pick a new Speaker without ever being without a GOP Speaker."

Massie's threat comes just days after former President Donald Trump tried to give the speaker cover to quell any rebellion from the ultra conservative right faction that ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year, leading to weeks of chaos in the House before Johnson was elected.

Johnson and Trump met at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on Friday, where Trump said, “I stand with the speaker; we’ve had a very good relationship."

Massie announced his intention during a GOP conference meeting, where Massie was booed by some of his Republican colleagues, according to sources in the meeting.

During a news conference Tuesday, Johnson said he considers himself "a wartime speaker" and emphasized, "I am not resigning. I didn't think this would be an easy path."

Louisiana holds the top two posts in the House with Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who stands with Johnson and said, "History will judge us based on how we respond to moments like this."

Johnson outlined his plan to fund the U.S. allies to his colleague in the GOP conference and in a post on X:

"I have just spoken with the @HouseGOP conference on my plan to address national security supplemental legislation on the growing security crises," Johnson said in his post. "This week, we will consider separate bills with a structured and germane amendment process to: fund our ally Israel; support Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression; strengthen our allies in the Indo-Pacific; Pass additional measures to counter our adversaries and strengthen our national security."

Calls for aid to U.S. allies escalated last week after Iran attacked Israel with a missile launch.

"As Israel faces this vicious attack from Iran, America must show our full resolve to stand with our critical ally," Johnson said Friday. "The world must be assured: Israel is not alone."

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1

This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: House Speaker Mike Johnson of Shreveport faces new GOP threat to job