Marjorie Taylor Greene Booed by Republicans

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was booed on the House floor Wednesday afternoon by Republicans and Democrats after bringing forward her motion to remove GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson.

The Republican Georgia congresswoman has put pressure on Johnson in recent weeks following the passage of spending packages, although many lawmakers in her own party have dismissed her efforts to vacate the Speaker's chair.

It is unclear which House members booed Greene's motion on Wednesday, although the Georgia congresswoman shot back at the heckling, saying, "This is the uniparty, for the American people watching."

A video of the moment was shared to X, formerly known as Twitter, by the liberal website MeidasTouch.

The Context

Greene first introduced the motion to remove Johnson in March after the speaker worked across the aisle to pass a $1.2 trillion federal spending package that avoided a partial government shutdown. She has also criticized the speaker for gaining bipartisan support to pass the foreign aid spending packages last month, including a measure that authorizes an additional $60.8 billion in assistance to Ukraine for its defense against Russia.

A handful of conservative lawmakers have stood beside Greene in her effort, although many Republicans, including Johnson, have dismissed the measure as a "distraction" and a "waste of time" for the party.

On Wednesday, Greene called her motion to vacate the Speaker's chair as privileged, which forces House leadership to act on the measure within two legislative days. The same action was taken in October by Republican Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz in a successful effort to oust former GOP Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

What We Know

According to reports, the House fell out of order after Greene brought her motion forward. Punchbowl News founder Jake Sherman reported that most of the chamber did not take Greene's effort "seriously" and that over half of lawmakers were engaged in loud conversation while the congresswoman attempted to speak.

In a video shared by the X account Acyn, one lawmaker can be heard yelling over Greene while she is at the podium, saying, "The House is not in order." The statement was followed by some laughter on the House floor.

A vote to table Greene's effort overwhelmingly passed on Wednesday by a 359-43 vote. Eleven Republicans and 32 Democrats joined her effort to vacate Johnson, while seven Democrats voted "present."

Views

A handful of Republicans immediately rebuked Greene's motion to vacate before the measure was struck down. Republican North Dakota Rep. Kelly Armstrong told CNN Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju while speaking outside the U.S. Capitol that Greene's effort was "the congressional version of a temper tantrum."

Republican South Dakota Rep. Dusty Johnson also described the motion as a "dumpster fire" when asked by Raju if Greene should be "punished" for her effort.

"We know that this motion is not going to do one thing to make America stronger, it's not going to do one thing to deliver a conservative victory," Johnson told reporters.

"What you have here are some of the mainstream members who are the adults," the congressman added. "And we're going to do what adults do. We're going to ignore the tantrums and instead work to actually govern this country."

Newsweek reached out to Greene's office for comment via email Wednesday evening.

What's Next

Due to infighting and a razor-thin one-vote majority, House Republicans have been largely preoccupied ahead of the presidential election in November, in which former President Donald Trump is set to take on President Joe Biden for reelection.

Trump, a close ally to Greene, responded to the congresswoman's motion to vacate in a post to Truth Social Wednesday evening, writing that while he "absolutely love[s]" Greene, House Republicans are "not in a position of voting on a Motion to Vacate."

"We are leading in the Presidential Polls by a lot ... Likewise, we are doing well in the Senate, and I believe we'll do well in the House," Trump said, referring to the 2024 election. "But if we show DISUNITY, which will be portrayed as CHAOS, it will negatively affect everything!"

Trump added that he believes "Johnson is a good man who is trying very hard."

Update 05/08/24, 6:56 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and background.