Speaker Johnson doubles down, claims he will 'not resign' amid mounting pressure

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) seems as if he's about to experience the same backlash from within his own party that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) faced before he was stripped of his gavel.

Johnson's leadership career, only months-long, is at stake more than ever after he expressed support in pushing along a foreign aid package that will send funds to Ukraine, among other places.

According to The Guardian, Johnson pushed back on calls from within the GOP to resign.

After what was described as a "testy" meeting with House Republicans earlier this week, Johnson made it clear that he will not be leaving the speakership voluntarily, despite the growing pressure.

"I am not resigning," Johnson said.

The Guardian noted:

Johnson referred to himself as a “wartime speaker” of the House and indicated in his strongest self-defense yet he would press forward with a US national security aid package, a situation that would force him to rely on Democrats to help pass it, over objections from his weakened majority.

Johnson doubled down, calling the renewed calls to vote him out of the speakership "absurd," adding, "We are simply here trying to do our jobs."

The speaker has met with President Joe Biden on several occasions as well as Democrats and other Republicans on moving forward an aid package that would contain separate bills for sending funds to "Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region."

Not only is the Ukraine aid an issue for many Republicans, but also the fact that Johnson is placing that as a top priority over taking care of the chaotic, illegal immigration crisis at the southern U.S. border.

The Guardian noted:

When the speaker said the House GOP’s priority border security bill HR 2 would not be considered germane to the package, Chip Roy, a Texas Republican and a chief sponsor, said it was for the House to determine which provisions and amendments are relevant.

Johnson's biggest threat of losing the gavel comes from Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, who has threatened to use the same "snap vote" method that was successfully used to oust McCarthy earlier this year in a historic vote.

Sen. Rand Paul made headlines this week when he joined Representative Thomas Massie in calling for Johnson's resignation.

Raise your hand if you agree with Senator Rand Paul. 🙋‍♀️

Resign Speaker Johnson. https://t.co/8uuNGWHNeP

— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) April 17, 2024

Only time will tell if yet another Republican House speaker is thrown out.