A Republican congressman has predicted that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) will overcome backlash from within his party and “survive” a motion to kick him out of his leadership role.
The prediction was made by Republican Tony Gonzalez (R-TX).
“He will survive,” Gonzales told CNN.
“Look, the house is a rough and rowdy place, but Mike Johnson is going to be just fine.”
Johnson angered some in his party by joining forces with Democrats to pass a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
The bill passed with support from most Republicans.
However, it was passed without any guarantees to secure the Southern Border.
Securing the border was an issue Johnson had linked with foreign aid for months before changing direction.
A handful of Republicans, led by Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), has threatened to trigger a “motion to vacate,” calling Johnson a turncoat.
Tony Gonzalez, a moderate, argues that Johnson will hold onto his job.
He asserts that the speaker “will survive” despite pressure from “scumbags” within the party.
“I served 20 years in the military,” he added.
“It’s my absolute honor to be in Congress, but I serve with some real scumbags.”
While the GOP is divided over Johnson, it is the Democrats who will decide his fate by either coming to his rescue or working with hardline Republicans to oust him.
Democrats are relishing their position, but they do not appear ready to vote for Johnson’s removal after he helped pass aid to Ukraine, a major priority of President Biden’s.
Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) told ABC’s This Week that Johnson “did the right thing here and he deserves to keep his job to the end of this term.”
Whether Johnson is removed or not, disillusioned Republicans say he has effectively relinquished control to Democrats already by compromising repeatedly on key issues.
Meanwhile, Greene is doubling down on the removal threats.
In an interview with Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Greene declared that Johnson’s speakership is “over.”
“Mike Johnson’s speakership is over,” she said.
“He needs to do the right thing to resign and allow us to move forward in a controlled process, and if he doesn’t do so, he will be vacated,” she said.
“[Johnson] has completely betrayed Republican voters all over the country, and he is absolutely working for the Democrats.”
For his part, Johnson has dismissed Greene’s threats as nothing but noise.
The country will soon find out who is right, however.
