Democrats defang GOP speaker ouster threat

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stand in front of U.S. flags

House Democratic leaders said they will kill Greene's motion

(Image credit: Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images)

published 1 May 2024

What happened

House Democratic leaders said Tuesday that if Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) follows through with her attempt to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), they will help kill her motion to vacate.

With Ukraine aid secured, "the time has come to turn the page on this chapter of Pro-Putin Republican obstruction," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and two other top Democrats said. If Greene "invokes the motion, it will not succeed." Johnson is now "officially the Democrat speaker of the House," Greene said. Johnson said he hadn't "requested assistance from anyone," but the country needs "a functioning Congress."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.