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Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie have laid out a list of demands for Speaker Mike Johnson - and are now holding off on their movement to oust him...for now.
'I am so done with words,' said Greene, who last week said she would 'absolutely' call up a motion to oust Johnson this week after huddling behind closed doors for hours. 'For me, it's all about action.'
Greene, R-Ga., along with Massie, R-Ky., are insisting the speaker commit to no more funding for Ukraine, among other demands.
Johnson spearheaded a $95 billion foreign policy bill that passed last month with Democrat support authorizing nearly $61 billion to Ukraine, along with billions to Israel and Taiwan.
He was forced to rely on support from Democrats as he presides over a tiny one-vote majority in the House, and it's challenging to get the unruly GOP conference in line.
'Not another red cent this year,' Massie said. 'Which is probably as long as he's going to be speaker if he survives using Democrat votes and motion to vacate assuming that he doesn't come through on some of these suggestions.'
Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene,left, and Thomas Massie, second from right, have laid out a list of demands for Speaker Mike Johnson - and are now holding off on their movement to oust him
Other demands included adhering to the so-called 'Hastert Rule' which means not bringing legislation to the floor that does not have the support of a majority of Republicans.
And another is to defund Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into former President Donald Trump for 'inciting' the January 6 riot and for his alleged mishandling of classified documents - which the Democratic-led Senate and White House would never agree to.
'You can't make things happen instantly. And we all are aware and understanding of that. So now the ball is in his court, and he's supposed to be reaching out to us, hopefully soon,' Greene said.
If Congress can't pass all 12 spending bills to fund the government in fiscal year 2025 by September 30, Greene and Massie want a continuing resolution to punt the deadline through the November elections with an automatic one percent cut.
He 'shacked up with Democrats to get FISA without warrants, to get the minibus passed, and to get the funding for Ukraine,' said Massie. 'It's time for him to come home now.'
Greene, Massie and Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., have signed on to a motion to vacate - but have not made the motion 'privileged' which would force a vote within two legislative days.
Democrats have already said they would vote to table - or kill - the motion, essentially taking air out of the Republican trio's threat.
Still, Johnson spent close to two hours on Monday and again on Tuesday in his office with his biggest GOP antagonist, Greene.
Some Republicans have questioned why he would negotiate with Greene.
'It's not a negotiation,' he insisted. 'Everybody knows I have lengthy discussions, detailed discussions, on a daily basis with members across the conference.
Greene has increasingly found herself at odds with former President Donald Trump in her crusade against Johnson. Trump has publicly supported the speaker and noted the difficulties of operating under a one-vote majority.
Recent reports came to light of a phone call where Trump told Greene to back off of the ouster. Greene declined to share details on whether the former president is supportive of her motion.
Reporters swarm MTG and Massie to see if they will try to kick out Speaker Johnson
Greene, R-Ga., along with Massie, R-Ky., are insisting the speaker commit to no more funding for Ukraine
'I have to tell you, I love President Trump. My conversations with him are fantastic. And again, I'm not going to go into details. You want to know why I'm not insecure about that. And I don't have to go into the details here with you guys.
Just days ago she was dead-set on making her motion to vacate 'privileged' this week - a move that would force a House vote on whether or not to keep Johnson as speaker within two legislative days.
Asked if she would still trigger the motion, Greene said: 'That's up to Mike Johnson.'
Massie said they did not give Johnson a 'timeline' to agree to their demands, but it's pretty short.'
'Next week I am going to be calling this motion to vacate,' Greene declared just last week.
'Absolutely calling it. I can't wait to see Democrats go out and support a Republican speaker and have to go home to their primaries,' she taunted one day after Democrats said they would vote down Green's motion to oust the speaker, deflating her attempt.