Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) following the passage of foreign aid bills in the House of Representatives this week. One bill included more than $60 billion in funding for Ukraine, while separate bills discussed aid for Taiwan and Israel.
Paul wrote on social media that it was “official” that Johnson is “no longer the GOP Speaker of the House, but Speaker for the Uniparty’s $1.5T deficit, warrantless spying on Americans and a foreign aid bill with more deficit spending than Schumer’s budget buster.”
The Kentucky senator has previously criticized efforts to send additional aid to Ukraine and was an outspoken critic of the campaign of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R).
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) increased pressure on the speaker following the vote, reiterating her support for a measure to vacate.
Motion to vacate. https://t.co/ABXhCFguf9
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) April 21, 2024
Since Greene filed her motion to vacate last month she gained the support of Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ).
Gosar wrote that “Congress cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the consequence of Biden’s disastrous open border policies, nor can it idly wait for Biden to halt this invasion through executive fiat. Congress has the responsibility to solve this crisis.”
He said that Congress wanted to spend money on “Ukraine without first securing our border.”
“I have added my name in support of the motion to vacate the Speaker. Our border cannot be an afterthought. We need a Speaker who puts America first rather than bending to the reckless demands of the warmongers, neo-cons and the military industrial complex making billions from a costly and endless war half a world away,” Gosar wrote.
Despite the pressure, Johnson said that he had no intention to step down from the speaker’s position. There was also speculation whether or not Democratic members of the House would vote to keep Johnson if there was a more serious effort to oust him.
Greene had recommended two amendments to the Ukraine aid bill, but neither passed.
