House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) took his role after weeks of chaos following the revolt that ousted Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from the post — with Johnson, a longtime election denier and avowed Christian nationalist, being the choice of the far-right of the party. But now, according to Politico, some of those members are already growing angry.
His detractors are reporting feeling betrayed and shortchanged by the lack of much meaningful policy difference from the McCarthy days and follows a speech Johnson gave to Republicans in the Senate, assuring them that he would secure funding to avert a shutdown through the end of the fiscal year — apparently taking that off the table as a bargaining chip for right-wing policy.
He also expressed interest in passing Ukraine aid, something increasingly opposed by some elements of the right-wing Freedom Caucus, although he added that he wanted it to be tied to a border bill.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), for example, said Johnson's performance is "plummeting," while Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), said his leadership is "unsatisfactory" and "needing improvement."