Johnson intends to remain in GOP leadership next Congress despite threats of removal

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he intends to continue leading the GOP conference even after the November election despite threats from some of his colleagues to oust him from the top leadership position.

Johnson said he plans to lead the House Republican conference “in the future,” telling reporters he has already begun to map out a plan for the party next year. In the meantime, Johnson said his “singular focus” is to expand the party’s historically slim majority, which now sits at just one vote.

“The most important thing that we have to do right now is govern the country well,” Johnson said on Tuesday. “We have plans for the next Congress, and we have outlined a lot of that. Right now, it’s all hands on deck, all hands on the wheel. … I’m honored to be able to do that. I expect I’ll be doing that in the future.”

As he looks ahead to the next Congress, Johnson said he has the backing of former President Donald Trump — which could help secure enough support across the GOP conference to solidify his hold on the gavel.

“All of our leaders of our party are united in this call because our objective and our mission is to save the country,” Johnson said. “And in my view, if we don’t grow the House majority [and if] we don’t retake the Senate from the other party and the White House, then I think we’re facing very serious threats.”

Johnson’s confidence to continue leading the GOP conference comes as he faces a threat from firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to oust the speaker from his top leadership position even before the year is over. Greene initially filed a motion to vacate over a month ago, holding the threat over Johnson’s head as he navigated key pieces of legislation such as government spending and foreign aid.

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It’s not entirely clear whether Greene plans to move forward with her ouster threats. The Georgia Republican announced she would bring it to the floor for a vote this week, but those plans have since been stalled after a substantial number of Republicans and Democrats came out to say they’d block the measure.

Greene met with Johnson in a two-hour meeting on Monday to discuss a path forward, and she will reconvene in the speaker’s office on Tuesday afternoon. Even if Greene drops her bid to boot Johnson before the end of the year, she has repeatedly said Johnson would not be reelected as the party’s leader next year.

Other Republican lawmakers have also expressed opposition to Johnson’s leadership in the future, even those who have been opposed to a motion to vacate.