Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., accused House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., of taking direction from the White House and failing to lead House Republicans independently.
Her remarks come amid a prolonged public feud with former President Donald Trump, sparked by Greene’s push to release documents tied to investigations involving the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump ultimately withdrew his endorsement of Greene and labeled her a “traitor.” Greene is set to resign from Congress in January.
“I want you to know that Johnson is not our Speaker. He is not our leader,” Greene said in an interview with The New York Times.
She went further, arguing that the House speaker is subordinating Congress to the executive branch. “In the legislative branch — a totally separate body of government — he is literally 100 percent under direct orders from the White House,” she said. “And many, many Republicans are so furious about that, but they’re cowards.”
When contacted for comment, Johnson’s office pointed to remarks he made in November during an appearance on FOX Business.
“I’m a jealous guardian of Article One of the Constitution,” Johnson said at the time. “The legislative branch is the most important, and I’m in charge of that in the House. I don’t think the president has overstepped his bounds. I think he’s used tariff authority wisely, and it’s given him leverage in trade negotiations. A lot of good has come out of that.”
A White House spokesperson, Davis Ingle, responded to Greene’s criticism with a sharp rebuke, telling The New York Times: “President Trump remains the undisputed leader of the greatest and fastest-growing political movement in American history — the MAGA movement. On the other hand, Congresswoman Greene is quitting on her constituents in the middle of her term and abandoning the consequential fight we’re in — we don’t have time for her petty bitterness.”
Greene is not alone in expressing frustration with Johnson’s leadership. Several Republican lawmakers have publicly aired concerns in recent weeks.
Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., said tensions have been building for months. “There’s a lot of concerns about the way things have been handled, starting with leadership letting this redistricting war break out, which is going to upend the districts of dozens of our members,” Kiley told Fox News Digital in December. He also criticized the House’s prolonged recess and what he described as a lack of influence on key legislative issues.
Other grievances have been more personal. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., said Johnson has stalled her bipartisan effort to establish a National Women’s Museum, despite broad support and backing from Trump. “It’s been stalled by the speaker, in committee, despite having 165 sponsors from both parties,” she said.
Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., voiced anger over how Johnson managed the National Defense Authorization Act earlier this month. “We’re getting shoved, and we just have to eat it, or vote against increasing pay to our military service members,” Steube said. While praising the passage of Trump-backed legislation as a major achievement, he questioned what comes next for the House. “Now that we’ve gotten over that, you’re kind of like, what can we do next?”
Criticism has also come in print. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wrote in The New York Times that Republican speakers have struggled to match the effectiveness of their Democratic counterparts. “Here’s a hard truth Republicans don’t want to hear: Nancy Pelosi was a more effective House speaker than any Republican this century,” she wrote, adding that rank-and-file lawmakers often feel sidelined under the current leadership.
As Greene prepares to exit Congress, her comments underscore a broader struggle within House Republicans over leadership, authority, and the party’s direction heading into the next year.
