House Republicans are united in their argument to describe Speaker Mike Johnson’s performance: “He’s doing the best he can.”
Lawmakers settled on the conservative Republican from Louisiana after a tumultuous three weeks without a president. All factions seemed happy with the decision at the time, from Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and his cronies who ousted Johnson, to moderates.
But it wasn’t long before the ‘Kumbaya feeling’ disappeared.
In March, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., introduced a motion to impeach Johnson. Eleven Republicans ultimately voted to approve the motion (more than the eight who voted to impeach McCarthy), but Democrats voted to shelve it.
“I think he’s doing the best he can in the situation he’s been given,” oversight committee chairman James Comer told DailyMail.com exclusively. “We have some members who are difficult to deal with, if you’re not dealing with a committee. It’s difficult to step in halfway, but I think he’s doing the best he can. And I think he’s an honourable man.”
Comer, along with Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, have led the impeachment inquiry into President Biden. Johnson has supported their efforts and led the charge in court over audio of special counsel Robert Hur’s interview with the president.
“Mike has been doing a good job and I support the speaker of the House. There are some things I don’t agree with, but it’s a tough job and he’s doing it well,” Jordan told DailyMail.com in a lukewarm defence of the House’s top Republican.
Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, left, and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, right
DailyMail.com reported on moves that could suggest Jordan could run for Johnson’s job in the next Congress.
Others have criticized the president for the spending.
Greene has criticized the two-part spending bill that funded the government for fiscal year 2024, a bill that reauthorized the warrantless FISA surveillance tool and a foreign aid package that did not include border security.
Rep. Chip Roy called the spending deals an “abomination” and said the House speaker “made mistakes” by including conservative priorities in the negotiated agreements.
Johnson spearheaded a $95 billion foreign policy bill that recently passed with Democratic support and authorizes nearly $61 billion to Ukraine, along with billions to Israel and Taiwan.
He has been forced to rely on support from Democrats as he presides over a slim one-vote majority in the House of Representatives, and it is a challenge to get the fractious GOP conference to get its act together.
“Excuses like ‘this is the way we govern’ and divided government are pathetic, weak and unacceptable. Even with our slim Republican majority, we could have at least secured the border,” Greene said.
House Republicans are united in the same argument to describe President Mike Johnson’s performance: “He’s doing the best he can.”
Greene accused Johnson of “aiding and abetting Democrats” in “destroying our country,” as Democrats booed her and Johnson shook hands and smiled at Republicans who supported him.
Johnson has insisted he wants to lead Republicans again in the next Congress, but his political future could depend on what happens in the next election.
A narrow Republican majority could put him in position to win: Republicans would need the votes of nearly their entire party to elect a president and win a majority in the House of Representatives.
A Republican loss could open an opportunity for Jordan: It would make it easier for him to overcome the handful of Republicans who say “never Jordan” if he only had to win a majority within the Republican conference, not on the House floor where Democratic votes are counted.
“I expect we will come back with pretty much the same scenario as we have now, a three- or four-seat majority,” Comer told DailyMail.com.
“I think we’re going to win, I think we’re going to hold the House and I think we’re going to increase our majority,” Jordan said. “Most importantly, I think we’re going to win the White House.”
“We desperately need President Trump to go back there.”
Jordan, whose stardom skyrocketed with the rise of Donald Trump, ran for House speaker before Johnson. He dropped out when it became abundantly clear that the group of House Republicans who would never dare vote for Jordan would remain. stubborn: 22 still opposed him for speaker in the second vote in the full House.
Before Jordan was chosen as the Republican candidate for House speaker and tried his luck on the floor, he had been outmaneuvered by Majority Leader Steve Scalise for the nomination.
He encountered a similar conundrum: anti-establishment, right-wing lawmakers who continued to vote for Jordan even though he was not the nominee.
While Jordan publicly endorsed Scalise, he made no move behind the scenes to encourage his own supporters to do the same. But he has since appeared to have made peace with some of his moderate detractors, touring the country to raise funds and participate in town hall meetings for members across the Republican spectrum.
Although Jordan publicly supported Scalise, behind the scenes he made no move to encourage his own devotees to do the same.
A senior House Republican said his boss, who moves in more pragmatic circles, was surprised when Jordan suddenly invited them to lunch.
Jordan has about $10 million on hand and has pledged more than $200,000 to dozens of different Republican campaigns so far this cycle.
Since campaign season began to heat up late last year, Jordan has crisscrossed the country to attend town hall meetings and fundraisers for at least 34 members across the ideological spectrum.