Democrats Fear Closed-Door Talks Between Speaker Johnson and MTG

Concerns have been raised by House Democrats regarding Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., engaging in prolonged discussions with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., sparking questions about the potential outcomes of their private talks, as reported by Axios here.

House Democrats are expressing worry as Johnson participates in lengthy conversations with Greene to diffuse her efforts to remove him from his position.

The concerns among Democrats have heightened as Johnson continues to meet with Greene despite assurances to protect him from her motion. Democratic leaders are wary of potential consequences if Johnson is seen as giving in to Greene’s demands.

A senior House Democrat emphasized caution in Johnson’s approach, stating, “He has to be careful here… if he appears to be simply yielding to her demands, that could impact how some Democrats view him.”

House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu, D-Calif., highlighted the public’s interest in these discussions, saying, “When Speaker Johnson spends hours meeting with her, the American people should be asking ‘what is Marjorie Taylor Greene getting from the speaker?'”

During their recent meeting, Greene presented several demands, such as ending aid to Ukraine and defunding special counsel probes. Johnson clarified that these discussions were not “negotiations” but part of his operating style as speaker.

Following the meeting, Greene stated, “the ball is in Mike Johnson’s court,” indicating uncertainty about the next steps. Despite Greene’s pledge to push for a vote this week, some Democrats question the need for prolonged discussions, with Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., expressing doubt.

“I don’t know what in the world they could be talking about for hours on end,” she told Axios.

Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., cautioned against trying to appease Greene, saying, “You cannot placate her. The moment you try to appease her, she will come up with new demands.”

Concerns extend beyond the immediate consequences of Johnson’s discussions with Greene. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., lamented the focus on internal conflicts over broader national interests.

House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., drew comparisons between Johnson’s negotiations and a previous agreement reached by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., which led to McCarthy’s removal and boosted Greene’s current position.

However, Johnson remains optimistic.

“Look, they’ve been very productive discussions. That’s what I’ll say,” Johnson remarked after Tuesday’s 90-minute meeting.

The attempt to oust Johnson has faced backlash from Trump, who expressed support for the speaker, and has struggled to gain Republican backing, leaving Greene with few allies.

Nevertheless, Greene’s demands resonate within the Republican party and may prove challenging for Johnson to disregard. This dynamic motivates both Greene and the speaker to seek a resolution, particularly given former President Donald Trump’s likely support.

Information from the Associated Press contributed to this story.