Internet divided as Mike Johnson says he intends to continue as House speaker in next Congress despite MTG's attempts to oust him

WASHINGTON, DC: House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Tuesday, May 7, that he plans to run for reelection in the next Congress, according to the New York Post.

Despite meeting with Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga) and Rep Thomas Massie (R-Ky) in his office for two hours on Monday evening, Johnson insists that he is not in a "negotiation" with the MAGA-aligned lawmaker to keep his position.

Johnson told reporters, "I thought it was productive. We’ll visit again today. It’s not a negotiation. This is how I’ve operated as a speaker."

He added, "Everybody knows I have lengthy discussions, detailed discussions on a daily basis with members across the conference. There are 217 of us [Republicans]. There’s nothing unusual about this. I’ve heard Marjorie and Thomas’s ideas just like I have every day for the last six months, heard others."

"Everybody has the same opportunity to do that," asserted the House GOP Speaker, adding, "It’s not a negotiation at all."

Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene presents her list of demands to House Speaker Mike Johnson

Having said that, Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene presented a set of demands to Johnson for him to accept. Failure to do so would result in a motion to vacate the chair.

There are four succinct demands that the Georgia far-right congresswoman has presented.

First, Greene revealed to the former Trump White House strategist, Steve Bannon, that she has requested that Speaker Johnson abide by the Hastert Rule, which stipulates that bills that do not have the support of the majority of Republicans will not be brought to the House floor for a vote.

Johnson's recent success in passing a military assistance package for Ukraine, which was supported by 101 Republican "yeas" and 112 GOP "nays" in a 311-112 vote, was the tipping point for Greene.

She has been threatening to pursue a motion to vacate the House Speaker Chair since March.

Second, Greene wants aid for Ukraine to be pulled.

This demand may be met with resistance from Democrats, who have pledged to support Johnson due to the Ukraine aid vote.

Third, Rep Greene has requested Johnson to introduce a bill that would defund the office of special counsel Jack Smith.

Speaker Johnson has expressed his openness to this request, but it may cause friction with House Democrats who had intended to back him in the lower chamber.

"There’s been a lot of discussion here amongst House Republicans in particular for a long, long time about the abuse of the special counsels. We’re looking very intently at it because I think the problem has reached a crescendo," claimed Johnson. 

Fourth, Greene has proposed a set of recommendations that aim to streamline the process of government funding.

One of the key proposals is to pass 12 separate appropriation bills by September 30, instead of consolidating them into omnibus or minibus packages, as followed by the House in March. 

"If we don’t get our 12 separate appropriation bills, we’ll have to do a 1% cut to spending or we won’t do anything at all. I have high expectations and they have to be met in full. There is no middle ground. There is no compromise," noted Greene. 

Donald Trump reportedly asked Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene to stand down against House Speaker Mike Johnson 

Rep Greene had initially threatened to set in motion her plans for Johnson’s ouster, but by Tuesday afternoon, she seemed to have backed off from her original plot.

She told reporters that there was no immediate deadline for the House GOP Speaker to respond to her demands.

If she decides to forge ahead with a motion to vacate, Greene enjoys the backing of Massie and Rep Paul Gosar (R-Ariz).

According to Rep Ryan Zinke (R-Mont), former President Donald Trump had a call with Greene over the weekend and urged her to stand down against Johnson.

Greene was hesitant to share her conversations with Trump.

She claimed, "I fight for President Trump harder in Washington DC than anybody, but everybody right now is trying to pretend like there’s a problem between us and I’m going to tell you right now, there is not."

Regardless of when the motion to vacate is put to vote, Johnson steadfastly asserted on Tuesday that he has no plans of leaving his position.

"I intend to lead this conference in the future. I’m convinced that my number one job and responsibility is to keep and grow the House majority in November. That’s my singular focus," told the House Speaker to reporters. 

Internet reacts as Speaker Mike Johnson says he intends to remain in post in the next Congress despite MTG's efforts to oust him

One remarked, "Get rid of him. He is vying for special interests, not the people of this country. Lobbying is political blackmail. Why can't we start there?!"

Another said, "When Republicans divide and fight each other, Democrats win. A disaster!"

"F**k that little sellout POS. With people like him in the GOP how can you blame Democrats for all the corruption?" fumed an individual, while a person expressed, "I wish everyone would stop giving her a platform to spew her hate for this Country and her lies!!! Enough is enough."

One more dubbed the situation "the chaos caucus." Another person slammed Greene saying, "That’s all she really wants..attention. What actual work has she ever done that helps the American people."

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