Former House Speaker Defends Mike Johnson

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has strongly criticized the idea of initiating proceedings to remove the current Speaker, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, labeling it as “utterly foolish.”

Gingrich emphasized that unless the proponents of the motion had secured a firm commitment of 218 votes to replace Johnson, such actions would only plunge the chamber into further disarray.

In an interview with Politico published on Friday, Gingrich remarked, “It would be utterly foolish. My question would be, Where are the 218 votes you claim to have for an alternative? Otherwise, all we’re doing is subjecting ourselves to three weeks of ridicule — akin to what [Rep. Matt] Gaetz [R-Fla.] managed to achieve.”

He alluded to Gaetz’s previous motion, which precipitated the vote resulting in the ousting of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October. The subsequent leadership vacuum left the House in a state of paralysis for three weeks as various contenders vied for the speaker’s position.

Reflecting on the turmoil, Gingrich expressed dismay, stating, “The fact that it took McCarthy 15 ballots to secure victory was bad enough. But then to undermine his speakership, throwing the entire party and House into disarray — it’s unacceptable.”

Gingrich underscored the importance of the responsibilities held by federal lawmakers, lamenting what he perceives as a failure of the House GOP majority to govern effectively.

“This isn’t a trivial matter akin to a local community meeting,” he emphasized. “This is the House of Representatives, entrusted with significant constitutional duties. In an increasingly perilous world, our inability to govern ourselves is nothing short of embarrassing.”

Recent months have seen mounting discontent among some Republican members regarding Johnson’s leadership, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia filing a motion in March seeking his removal over his backing of a $1.2 trillion spending bill.

“We need a Speaker who will staunchly defend America’s borders at any cost!” Greene asserted at the time. “Not someone who endorses a Democrat-driven spending spree that perpetuates border vulnerabilities, fuels bureaucratic expansion, and violates our own party’s principles. Enough is enough.”

On Tuesday, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky declared his support for Greene’s motion to oust Johnson from his position.

“I just informed Mike Johnson during our caucus meeting that I am co-sponsoring the Motion to Vacate put forward by @RepMTG,” Massie announced. “He should follow Boehner’s example and announce his resignation in advance, enabling us to select a new Speaker seamlessly.”

However, Johnson has remained resolute in his stance, asserting that he has no intention of relinquishing his House leadership role anytime soon.

“I have no plans to step down, and I find the notion of a motion to vacate to be absurd,” Johnson asserted, as reported by ABC News. “This is not a cause for concern on my part. I am committed to fulfilling my duties.”