Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) voted to table ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA) ouster of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), though for an unexpected reason.
Gaetz said in a post on X that he “voted to table the motion for one principal reason – with a two seat majority in an election year I believe 2-3 Republicans could be susceptible to bribes to resign or even vote for a Democrat.”
Greene’s motion to vacate Johnson was denied 359-43, with seven lawmakers voting present. Eleven Republicans voted against tabling the motion, and Democrats largely supported Johnson.
Gaetz’s words appear to signal that he is worried that if Johnson is voted out, a few Republicans could be swayed to act in support of a Democratic speaker. That speaker would likely support any legislation against former President Donald Trump.
Despite voting against Greene’s measure, calling it a “truthful, compelling case” against Johnson, he said, “She should be commended for this work.”
The Florida congressman finished his post with a call to put Trump back into the White House.
Gaetz and Greene are both hard-line members of the Republican Party, often disagreeing with more centrist lawmakers on their side of the aisle.
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Gaetz previously led a group of House Republicans in ousting then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year, though Gaetz had a significantly more contentious relationship with McCarthy.
Gaetz is up for election in 2024 and will face a McCarthy-endorsed primary challenger in Aaron Dimmock.
