Mike Johnson says he's 'not worried' about being ousted as Newt Gingrich gives him advice on how to deal with 'narcissists' and 'selfish idiots' vying for his head

Newt Gingrich offered up some unsolicited advice for embattled Speaker Mike Johnson.

The former Republican Speaker also gave a blistering critique to those on the right threatening to the embattled Louisiana lawmaker as he moves forward with a foreign aid package.

Gingrich, who held the speaker gavel in the 1990s, gave a colorful interview to Politico where he blasted hard right disrupters as 'narcissists' and 'selfish idiots' and offered praise for Johnson's handling of an unwieldy caucus. 

'[Johnson] has the narrowest majority in modern times, and it's not a true majority, because he's got six or eight narcissists - people who think that they individually get to screw up everything,' Gingrich said.

The former speaker called out Congress Matt Gaetz by name as the 'the super narcissist.'

Gingrich slammed Gaetz for ousting former Speaker Kevin McCarthy last fall and the ongoing dysfunction that has continued. 

'The demons that Gaetz unleashed by going after [Kevin] McCarthy are still out there. You can't govern by shooting yourself in the head every day,' Gingrich said.

Former GOP Speaker Newt Gingrich offered praise for how Johnson has been handling leadership amid party infighting 

Speaker Johnson walking toward the House chamber on April 19. He is pushing an aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan despite threats from Republicans to oust him

The former speaker said the challenge with having the majority is getting something done. He said the 'country expects you to get something done.'

The threat to oust Johnson grew this week as the speaker moves forward with a foreign aid package for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan which has been held up by Republicans.

His efforts to proceed increased tensions with conservatives who have threatened to remove him from leadership.

On Friday, Johnson told reporters he is not worried about the threats. He said he is going to do his job and let the chips fall where they may.

Gingrich called GOP members moving forward with a motion to vacate 'totally stupid.'   

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) filed a motion to vacate and is threatening to oust Johnson if he moves forward with passing the foreign aid package

'My question would be, ''Show me the 218 you've got for somebody,'' because otherwise what you're doing is putting us through three weeks of looking like idiots — which Gaetz managed to do,' Gingrich said. 

'You've got to remember, this isn't some game at a PTA meeting. This is the House of Representatives. It has serious constitutional obligations. We live in a dangerous world, and we look like we are absurdly incapable of governing ourselves,' he added.

Gingrich blasted Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) who led the charge to oust Speaker McCarthy last year a as a 'super narcissist.'

Gaetz on April 19 with wife Ginger on the steps of the Capitol after House allowed foreign aid package to move forward with a vote this weekend

Gingrich's leadership in the 1990s has been blamed for helping usher in an era of bare-nuckled nasty politics and partisanship that endures with hardliners currently in Washington. 

Recently Gingrich posted on X that Johnson 'is working to lead the most complicated House since the Civil War. Any Republican who moves to vacate the chair should be challenged as totally destructive.'

Gingrich said in the interview he thinks Johnson is 'doing a pretty decent job considering how almost impossible it is.'

'Frankly, the danger for the hard right is that if they teach 120 or 130 members that the only way to get anything done is to work with the Democrats, they'll end up with much worse legislation than they would get if they would actually work as a team,' Gingrich said. 

He added that he has 'great sympathy' for how hard the job is.

When asked if Johnson should prioritize holding onto the speakership or passing aid to Ukraine 

'Brave men die but once, a coward dies a hundred deaths,' he responded. 

He urged Johnson do do what he thinks is historically right and if his party is 'dumb enough to punish' him for what he believes, 'then you shouldn't be there anyway.'