It seems Republicans may be beginning to lose their patience with House Speaker Mike Johnson.
A Questionable Figure
From the day he got the job, it very much seemed like Speaker Johnson wouldn’t have an easy time. Stories of his controversial past emerged, and he was heavily criticized for his views. To many Americans, Johnson’s election raised concerns about Christian nationalism.
Old-Fashioned Opinions
From anti-LGBTQ+ comments to far-fetched claims about the planet’s age, Johnson’s opinions are old-fashioned to say the least. But now Republicans are criticizing him too, and it’s for entirely different reasons.
GOP Senator Josh Hawley
GOP Senator Josh Hawley recently expressed frustration about the possibility of a government shutdown. He didn’t hold back, boldly labeling the situation “just ridiculous” and conveying a lack of patience in regard to the fact that a funding agreement hasn’t yet been reached.
A Possible Compromise
On the same day, President Biden met with various Congressional leaders to discuss a potential compromise on military aid and government funding. Present individuals included Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Hakeem Jeffries, and Mike Johnson.
Speaking to CNN
Hawley expressed his frustration to Manu Raju from CNN, revealing an intense dissatisfaction with the amount of time seemingly being wasted.
Just Ridiculous
“This was supposed to be done in September. I mean, this is now almost March? Well, this is just ridiculous. They have agreement on the top line. They’ve had it since January,” the senator said.
Out of Patience
“This is why I voted against the last CR,” he added. “They’ve just been kicking the can down the road. I can’t believe that they didn’t get work done over the weekend. They had months to do this stuff. I mean, my patience has run out.”
Leadership Is To Blame
Raju soon asked Hawley who he blamed for the situation, and the senator was quick to point the finger at “leadership” before adding that blame exists on both sides.
They’re All To Blame
“Yeah, of course. Yeah, all of them. Yeah. They’re all [to] blame. I mean, at this point it’s just — it’s absurd, I think,” he explained.
Preventing a Government Shutdown
Hawley’s criticism came as Speaker Johnson spoke to a reporter and claimed a government shutdown won’t happen. “No, we’re going to work to prevent that,” he reportedly said on his way to the aforementioned meeting with the President.
A Lot of Work To Do
Biden’s spirit was similar before the meeting. “Look, I want to thank the leaders for being here today. We got a lot of work to do. We got to figure out how we’re going to keep funding the government, which is an important problem, an important solution we need to find — and I think we can do that,” he told the leaders.
The Consequences of Inaction in Ukraine
“And — and Ukraine — I think the need is urgent. I hope we get to speak to that a little bit, and I think the consequence[s] of inaction every day in Ukraine are dire. I’ve been speaking to some of our — our G7 partners,” he continued.
We Need Bipartisan Solutions
The President later added: “I think that it’s Congress’ responsibility to fund the government. We got to get about doing it. A shutdown would damage the economy significantly, and I think we all agree to that — and we need bipartisan solutions.”
A Total Embarrassment
Hawley’s CNN interview wasn’t the first time he’s condemned GOP leadership. He previously referred to it as a “total embarrassment” when the Senate failed to pass a bill to address the southern border situation.
Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine
The bill in question would have given funds to Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine, and it was voted down 49-50. Given the amount of division surrounding the issue, the Senate’s failure to pass it added to doubts about Congress’ ability to take action on immigration reform and border security.
Hawley’s Sarcastic Words
“Oh, I think Republican leadership has shown they’re a well-oiled machine. They just do great. Couldn’t be improved upon. Absolutely have it all together. Very impressive. No, it’s a total embarrassment,” Hawley said.
A More Lighthearted Criticism
In a more lighthearted criticism, Speaker Johnson recently irked his colleagues when, at a weekend retreat for GOP lawmakers, he went off on a tangent about declining church numbers.
Bringing People Together
“I’m not at church. I think what he was trying to do, but failed on the execution of it, was try to bring us together. The sermon was so long he couldn’t bring it back to make the point,” an attendee said.
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