House Republicans face a lingering problem as their conference descends into perpetual chaos: themselves.
Although the party has had a majority in the House of Representatives since 2022, they have since been plagued by infighting between centrists and MAGA loyalists.
These different factions within the conference have led to differing views on key policies such as the growing debt deficit, border security and foreign aid.
Most recently, firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., filed a motion to impeach Republican Chairman Mike Jonson for forcing a vote on a $1.2 trillion government spending package. It’s unclear whether other Republicans would join her in ousting the chairman just months before the general election.
The Republican-Republican attacks are reminiscent of the buildup that led to the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted by eight Republicans who joined all Democrats in ousting their leader six months ago.
Now some members are speaking out, calling out “ultraconservatives” for forcing situations that often benefit Democrats.
“Now they’re threatening our speaker again,” Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., told Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo on Monday.
“This whole episode of removing speakers and threatening speakers doesn’t do anyone any good except the Democratic party.”
Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., said Monday that hardline conservatives have created situations that force Republicans to side with Democrats
“We have some members who want to draw attention to themselves and not to the things we need to do as a conference,” Gimenez continued.
‘What really bothers me, Maria, is that because of these preconditions I have to vote on legislation that is more left-wing than I actually want.’
“The ultraconservatives are actually forcing our agenda to move left because we can’t get their votes.”
Notably, the House vote to pass the trillion-dollar spending package in March received more votes from Democrats than Republicans, as many conservatives railed against the price and lack of border security measures.
And with the majority in the House of Representatives shrinking to a razor-thin margin of one vote, those hardliners have more negotiating power than ever before.
But despite their recent increased influence in the House Republican Party, not much has changed in terms of policy goals.
“We’re in exactly the same place now with Speaker Johnson, who I support, as we are with Kevin McCarthy,” Gimenez said.
“We need to get back together and get some sanity back in our conference.”
But common sense may be far away as the threat to tank the Republican leader remains.
If Greene continues her bid to oust Johnson, he will almost certainly need votes from Democrats to keep him in power, if they are friendly.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not extend that olive branch to McCarthy when he was under pressure from conservative hardliners, and as a result the California Republican was impeached last October.
With a foreign aid bill being considered by the House as the war in Ukraine has stalled, the GOP has yet to reach a consensus on how to resolve the issue.
While rank-and-file Republicans fight over a bill to help Ukraine, conservatives are warning Johnson that if he goes through with it, they could make good on their threats to oust him.
“We need to go back and get Republicans united to show what our radical, progressive Democratic colleagues are doing and present a truly competitive vision,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, recently.
“That does not start with, let me be very clear, putting a clean bill on the floor for Ukraine,” he continued.
House Speaker Mike Johnson must find support from both centrist and conservative Republicans to move anything in the House, due to the historically small margin of one vote.
Members of the press swarm represent Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., after she filed a motion to remove Speaker Mike Jonson
Greene also warned Johnson not to vote on aid to Ukraine without first securing the border.
“If Speaker Johnson donates another $60 billion to defend the Ukrainian border after FULLY funding Biden’s deadly open border, the cruel joke would be on the American people,” Greene wrote on X on Monday.
“And they won’t be April Fools’ Day.”
Bob Good, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, also sent a warning to Johnson when he replied “no comment” to a CNN reporter asking if he would remove the speaker.
“I think that comment is a comment in itself,” he added.
Johnson, meanwhile, has said he plans to bring the foreign aid bills to the floor when Congress returns from recess next week.
“We are putting that product together and will move it immediately after the district work period,” he said Sunday.