Tensions within the House GOP reached a boiling point Monday as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene launched a scathing attack on Speaker Mike Johnson, characterizing him as a mere “rubber stamp” for President Donald Trump’s agenda.
In a series of wide-ranging interviews with The New York Times, Greene detailed her frustrations with the stalled House of Representatives, arguing that Johnson has effectively surrendered the legislative branch’s independence.
“I want you to know that Johnson is not our speaker. He is not our leader,” Greene told the Times. “And in the legislative branch — a totally separate body of government — he is literally 100 percent under direct orders from the White House.”
READ: CIA Drone Hits Venezuelan Port In Historic First As Pacific Drug Raids Turn Deadly
Greene went on to claim that she is not alone in her assessment, noting that “many, many Republicans are so furious about that,” though she dismissed those silent colleagues as “cowards.”
The Georgia Congresswoman’s comments land during a turbulent period for the Republican-led Congress, which is currently facing plummeting approval ratings. Internal friction has reportedly grown as the legislative body struggles to navigate complex policies regarding health care and congressional stock trading.
Greene is not the only member voicing dissatisfaction. California Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley recently suggested that the Speaker needs to fundamentally alter his strategy.
“I certainly think that the current leadership, and specifically the speaker, needs to change the way that he approaches the job. We need to actually go back to leading the House of Representatives,” Kiley told reporters in December. Kiley became an outspoken critic after House leadership ignored his push to ban mid-decade redistricting nationwide—a critical issue for his district following California’s Prop 50 redistricting measure.
READ: ‘Not In My Lifetime’: Alan Dershowitz Says Palestinians Have Yet To Earn Statehood
Private complaints appear even more blunt. One anonymous member described Johnson’s leadership style to the outlet NOTUS as “shitty,” estimating that if members provided an honest review, Johnson would sit at a “20% approval rating.”
The infighting has notably spilled into the public view involving other high-profile Republicans. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York recently clashed with Johnson over social media regarding the National Defense Authorization Act. Stefanik claimed Johnson blocked a provision she attempted to secure, and when the Speaker denied knowing about it, she accused him of “more lies.”
“The Speaker texted me yesterday claiming he ‘knew nothing about it.’ Yeah right,” Stefanik wrote. “This is his preferred tactic to tell Members when he gets caught torpedoing the Republican agenda.”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
