Speaker Mike Johnson suggests Marjorie Taylor Greene isn't a serious lawmaker: 'Bless her heart'

‘Bless her heart’: Johnson suggests Greene not a serious lawmaker

Johnson: America doesn't need another vote to vacate speaker
Campus protests are a real political problem for Democrats, Johnson said
Full interview will air on 'The Hill' at 6 p.m. ET Wednesday

Updated: May 1, 2024 / 06:35 PM CDT

WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — House Speaker Mike Johnson responded to ouster threats from one of his Republican colleagues, saying Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene isn’t proving to be a serious lawmaker.

Johnson made the comments in an interview with NewsNation’s Blake Burman on “The Hill” where he discussed the ongoing campus protests, border issues and his future in leadership.

Johnson’s full interview will air on NewsNation’s “The Hill” at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

Here’s a glimpse at what viewers can expect from the dialogue between Johnson and Burman:

Ahead of a news conference Wednesday morning, Burman asked Johnson about his future in office and whether he thinks Greene is a serious lawmaker.

“Bless her heart,” Johnson said. “I don’t think she’s proving to be.”

Johnson said he doesn’t spend much time thinking about the Georgia lawmaker, saying he has to focus on doing his job as speaker.

“We do the right thing and we let the chips fall where they may,” Johnson said.

Greene announced Wednesday she will pursue a vote on removing Johnson from his position next week.

The speaker said that leading the House to another vote to vacate the chair again is the opposite of what America needs right now.

Burman also asked Johnson what he makes of President Joe Biden’s response to the pro-Palestinian protests occurring on college campuses. Johnson said it has become a political problem for the Democrats.

“The silence is deafening. The president needs to speak with moral clarity in this fateful moment of our country. I’m doing that as the House speaker,” he said. “But, Chuck Schumer has been pretty silent on this and President Biden noticeably.”

Johnson said he thinks the protests have become a real political problem for the Democrats and they are trying to assess the situation before deciding to respond, especially because Biden doesn’t want to lose Michigan and Nevada voters ahead of the November election.

“But this is no time for politics. There’s no time for equivocation. This is not a gray area. This is right and wrong, and the president of the United States should speak to that,” Johnson said.

Here’s how to watch Johnson’s full interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill” on Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET.