Franklin Graham Says 'Fearless' Marjorie Taylor Greene Should Reconsider Motion To Vacate Against Speaker Johnson

On Wednesday, evangelist Franklin Graham waded into political waters, urging Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to reconsider her decision to bring the motion to vacate against Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) next week. This move, announced alongside Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), has ignited significant controversy, with many Republicans arguing that it could potentially weaken the party's stance ahead of the crucial general election.

The Georgia Republican announced in a press conference outside Capitol Hill on Wednesday that she would be bringing the motion after Johnson worked with Democrats to get the $95 billion foreign aid package through the lower chamber without a majority of Republican support. Greene said Johnson had "become a man that none of us recognize." 

"And so next week, I am going to be calling this motion to vacate," Greene said. "Absolutely. I'm calling it. I can't wait to see Democrats go out and support a Republican Speaker and have to go home to their primaries and have to run for Congress again, having supported a Republican Speaker, a Christian conservative. I think that'll play well."

In response to her decision, renowned Christian conservative Franklin Graham took to social media to encourage Greene to change her mind, expressing his concern about the potential impact on the Republican Party. "I've not personally met Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, but she's an interesting person and seems to be fearless," he wrote. "However, if she's not careful, she will weaken the Republican Party. She has called for a motion to vacate Speaker of the House Mike Johnson next week."

"[Speaker Johnson] is a good man, and I thank God for him. I believe he may be the best Speaker we've had in this country for decades," the evangelist explained. "He loves God and isn't afraid to ask Him for wisdom. She needs to support him, not fight against him. [Marjorie Taylor Greene], I hope you will reconsider this action."

Graham isn't the only one pushing Greene to reverse course. Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley also met with the America First lawmaker earlier this week to urge "party unity" for just over seven months until Election Day. The new Trump-supported RNC chair attempted to argue that a motion to vacate Speaker Johnson would be a pointless disruption. "He said, one, this is not helpful, and two, we want to expand and grow the majority in the House," a person familiar with the meeting said, per POLITICO. "He was clear that any disruption to the conference on these efforts — including filing this [motion to vacate], does not help the case for party unity."

One person close to Rep. Greene dispelled the RNC chair's concerns, explaining, "The only person destroying Republican unity is Mike Johnson. Republicans need a speaker who will deliver President Trump's America First agenda when he's back in the White House. Democrat-endorsed Mike Johnson isn't it."

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