House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., engage in a conversation during a ceremony honoring retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on April 29, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The two leaders are seen deep in conversation, paying their respects to Col. Puckett during his congressional tribute. The photo captures the solemn moment, as the remains of Col. Puckett lie in honor. The presence of these influential figures highlights the significance and respect accorded to Col. Puckett’s service and sacrifice. The image, captured by J. Scott Applewhite, portrays the solemnity and reverence of the occasion.
House Democratic Leaders in the U.S. thwarted the attempts made by a small faction of far-right House Republicans to oust Speaker Mike Johnson from his leadership position.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar issued a joint statement expressing their intent to vote against attempts to remove Johnson through the motion to vacate. This bipartisan support within the House is a remarkable indication of unity.
“We have decided to vote against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Motion to Vacate the Chair,” they stated. “Even if she does bring up the motion, it will not be successful.”
Georgia Republican, Greene, took action in March by filing a motion to remove Johnson, a Louisiana representative. Since then, she has garnered support from Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie and Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar.
Members of the House Freedom Caucus, including Chairman Bob Good of Virginia, have expressed their opinion that the GOP Conference should postpone the discussion on leadership until after the November elections.
Far-right GOP lawmakers are expressing their frustration with Johnson for consistently bringing bipartisan measures to the floor. These measures include government funding packages and military aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
In their statement released on Tuesday, a group of House Democratic lawmakers emphasized their commitment to prioritizing people over politics and their ability to work across party lines with traditional Republicans. They highlighted that since the start of this Congress, they have consistently focused on delivering tangible outcomes through bipartisan collaboration.
“We will continue to aggressively push back against MAGA extremism,” House Democrats affirmed.
During a press conference on Tuesday morning, Johnson was asked about the statement and he admitted that he hadn’t heard about it.
“I haven’t asked for help from anyone,” Johnson stated firmly. “My main focus is on accomplishing the task at hand and ensuring the successful passage of the legislation.”
According to Johnson, there were no deals made with Democrats to secure their support during a potential motion to vacate vote.
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