Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) unveiled a list of demands for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as she holds threats over his head to oust him from his top leadership position.
Greene met with Johnson for two hours on Monday to discuss a path forward on her motion to vacate, outlining several concessions she wants to see from the speaker. It’s not clear whether Greene offered to drop the motion if the requests are fulfilled, nor is it clear whether Johnson would agree to make changes.
“This is what people all over the country are screaming for,” Greene said on Steve Bannon’s War Room on Tuesday. “They want to see this vote because this vote will expose the uniparty.”
Greene laid out four demands, including a vow not to approve any additional aid to Ukraine for the remainder of this Congress. Greene is also pressing Johnson to pass the appropriations bills for fiscal 2025 in 12 individual votes, implementing a 1% funding cut across the board if lawmakers cannot pass spending legislation ahead of the deadline.
Among the other demands is a vow to obey the Hastert rule, which dictates that legislation must pass with a majority of the majority party — something that has been occasionally skirted over the last year as Democrats have backed must-pass legislation opposed by several Republicans.
Additionally, Greene is seeking a funding cut for Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith over his criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump — a proposal that is unlikely to get through the Democratic-led Senate or White House.
Greene is scheduled to meet with Johnson again on Tuesday afternoon to continue discussions, although Johnson has seemingly poured cold water on offering any concessions.
“This is not a negotiation,” Johnson told reporters on Tuesday. “This is how I’ve operated as speaker. I committed to do it before I became speaker, and I’ve been doing this for the last six months.”
Some GOP members have expressed hesitation with Johnson offering any deals to Greene in exchange for the motion to vacate to be dropped, with at least one lawmaker arguing it would “not be good practice to establish separate arrangements to separate members” on such key matters.
Another House Republican told the Washington Examiner he was not “overly concerned” that a deal would take place, noting Jonson “has his foundation — he can’t lose it.”
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Greene will reconvene with Johnson on Tuesday afternoon alongside Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who has co-sponsored her motion to vacate. Greene said her decision on whether to move forward with the motion to vacate will depend on what happens in that second meeting.
“I have high expectations, and they have to be met in full,” Greene told Bannon. “There is no middle ground. There is no compromise.”