EXCLUSIVEGOP committee leaders reveal how they really feel about Speaker Mike Johnson as he navigates 'hard situation' with Marjorie Taylor Greene, other Republican troublemakers
- READ MORE: Will Joe Biden actually be impeached?
House Republicans are unified on the same talking point to describe Speaker Mike Johnson's performance: 'He's doing the best he can.'
Lawmakers settled on the conservative Louisiana Republican after three tumultuous weeks without a speaker. Every faction seemed happy with the decision at the time - from Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and his cohorts who ousted Johnson to moderates.
But it didn't take long for the 'Kumbaya feeling' to unravel.
In March Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., filed a motion to vacate Johnson. Eleven Republicans ended up voting to advance the motion - more than they eight that voted to oust McCarthy - but Democrats voted to table it.
'I think he's doing the best he can in the situation he was given,' Oversight Chairman James Comer exclusively told DailyMail.com. 'We've got some difficult members to deal with, if you will not committee. It's tough to go in there midstream, but I think he's doing the best he can. And I think he's a honorable man.'
Comer, along with Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, have led the impeachment inquiry into President Biden. Johnson has been supportive of their efforts and led the charge to court over audio of special counsel Robert Hur's interview with the president.
'Mike's been doing a good job and I support the speaker. There's been some things I disagree with, but it's a tough job and he's doing fine,' Jordan told DailyMail.com in a tepid defense of the top House Republican.
Oversight Chair James Comer, left, and Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, right
DailyMail.com reported about moves that could suggest Jordan might go for Johnson's job next Congress.
Others have been critical of the speaker over spending.
Greene has railed against the two-part spending bill that funded the government for fiscal year 2024, a bill that reauthorized spy tool FISA without warrants and a foreign aid package that did not include border security.
Rep. Chip Roy called the spending deals an 'abomination' and said the speaker 'blew it' in getting conservative priorities into the negotiated deals.
Johnson spearheaded a $95 billion foreign policy bill that passed recently 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.
'Excuses like 'this is just how you have to govern' and divided government are pathetic, weak and unacceptable. Even with our razor thin Republican majority, we could have at least secured the border,' Greene said.
House Republicans are unified on the same talking point to describe Speaker Mike Johnson 's performance: 'He's doing the best he can'
Greene accused Johnson of 'aiding and abetting Democrats' to 'destroy our country,' as Democrats booed her and Johnson shook hands and smiled at the Republicans who support him.
Johnson has insisted he wants to lead Republicans again next Congress. But his political future could depend on what happens in the next election.
A narrow GOP majority could put him in a position to win: Republicans would need the votes of nearly all of their party to elect a speaker and get a majority on the House floor.
A Republican loss could make an opening for Jordan: it would make it easier for him to overcome the handful of 'never Jordan' Republicans if he only had to win a majority within the GOP conference, not on the House floor where Democratic votes are counted.
'I predict hat we come back with pretty much the same scenario we have now a three or four seat majority,' Comer told DailyMail.com.
'I think we are going to win, keep the house and increase our majority,' said Jordan, 'Most importantly, I think we're gonna win the White House.'
'We need President Trump back in there so desperately.'
Jordan, whose star power shot up with the rise of Donald Trump, ran for speaker before Johnson. He gave up when it was abundantly clear the 'never-Jordan' cadre of House Republicans would remain obstinate: 22 still opposed him for speaker on the second ballot on the House floor.
Prior to Jordan being elected House GOP speaker nominee and trying his hand on the floor, Majority Leader Steve Scalise had beat him out for the nomination.
He'd run into a similar conundrum: right-wing anti-establishment lawmakers who continued to vote for Jordan even though he wasn't the nominee.
While Jordan publicly supported Scalise, behind the scenes he made no moves to encourage his own devotees to do the same. But since then he's seemingly made amends with some of his moderate detractors, criss-crossing the country for fundraisers and town halls for members from across the Republican spectrum.
While Jordan publicly supported Scalise, behind the scenes he made no moves to encourage his own devotees to do the same
One senior House GOP aide said their boss, who runs in a more pragmatist circle, was taken aback when Jordan invited them to lunch out of the blue.
Jordan has close to $10 million on hand, and has offered over $200,000 to dozens of different Republicans' campaigns so far this cycle.
Since campaign season began heating up late last year, Jordan has criss-crossed the country for town halls and fundraisers for at least 34 members from across the ideological spectrum.
