The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Momentum builds to oust Johnson from House speakership

One right-wing member urged the speaker to resign, a call that Johnson rejected

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Updated April 16, 2024 at 5:32 p.m. EDT|Published April 16, 2024 at 11:53 a.m. EDT
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on April 16 told reporters he is not resigning amid threats from some House Republicans to oust him. (Video: TWP)
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House Speaker Mike Johnson’s job is in serious jeopardy as two far-right lawmakers are threatening to oust him after the embattled Republican leader proposed a complex plan intended to fund key foreign allies during wartime.

Johnson (La.) introduced a four-part proposal Monday night to decouple aid for Israel, which faced a barrage of missiles and drones from Iran over the weekend, and help for Ukraine in its fight against Russia, along with two other measures. But his angry right flank — which has for weeks threatened to wrest Johnson’s gavel — escalated its attacks Tuesday morning, also vowing to sink a procedural measure needed to consider his plan.