BREAKING: Rep. Thomas Massie Backs Motion To Vacate Speaker Mike Johnson

During a closed-door GOP meeting on Tuesday, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) told Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) that he would back the motion to vacate submitted by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) earlier this month. Massie would be the first representative to back Greene's motion, and if he follows through, the House will yet again be plunged into a hotly contested speakership fight with an even smaller majority than last year.

"I'm going to deliver you some bad news," Massie said during the meeting, per POLITICO reporter Olivia Beevers. "I'm going to co-sponsor the MTV, even though I don't want to." Johnson reportedly said, "Bring the MTV, that's your choice" in response.

Massie confirmed the report on X, writing, "I just told Mike Johnson in conference that I'm cosponsoring the Motion to Vacate that was introduced by [Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene]. He should pre-announce his resignation (as Boehner did), so we can pick a new Speaker without ever being without a GOP Speaker."

Rep. Massie's decision to back the motion to vacate comes after the House passed the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) without a warrant requirement and an omnibus that Massie critiqued as being more expensive than any package passed under Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). The Kentucky Republican's decision also comes after Johnson backed a foreign aid bill that would send billions of more taxpayer dollars to Ukraine.

With both Greene and Massie supporting the motion to vacate, Speaker Johnson would need help from Democrats to keep his job. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) has already come out in support of Johnson, writing, "My position hasn’t changed. Massie wants the world to burn, I won’t stand by and watch. I have a bucket of water." Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) also said that he would vote to keep Johnson as speaker.

This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.

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