In a surprising move, Representative Thomas Massie from Kentucky has declared his support for a resolution seeking to remove Speaker Mike Johnson from his position as the leader of the House. Massie announced his co-sponsorship of the motion to vacate resolution, filed by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, during a closed-door conference meeting with his colleagues.

Massie's decision marks the first public support for Greene's effort to remove Johnson from his role. This comes less than 24 hours after Johnson presented a plan outlining the movement of foreign aid through the House. The plan involved voting on separate bills to provide assistance to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and other national security priorities. However, the omission of border security provisions in the plan sparked opposition among conservatives, including Massie.

Massie cited Johnson's handling of government funding, the reauthorization of warrantless surveillance authority, and the inclusion of Ukraine aid without border security measures to justify his support for the ouster effort. He expressed concerns that these actions would disrupt the unity of the Republican conference.

During the closed-door meeting, Massie even asked Johnson to resign from the Speakership, but the Louisiana Republican declined the request. Johnson responded to the growing efforts to oust him, calling it "absurd" and emphasizing the importance of focusing on the country's best interests.

Both Massie and Greene have not disclosed the timing of a potential vote on the resolution. However, their support means that Johnson would likely need Democratic support if the issue comes to the floor for a vote. With the current breakdown in the House, Republicans can only afford to lose two GOP lawmakers on party-line votes.

While some Democrats have indicated they would protect Johnson if he puts Ukraine aid on the floor, many others are waiting for the legislation's specifics before taking a stance. Massie believes that Johnson could potentially lose more votes than former Speaker Kevin McCarthy did when he was removed from his position.

Although no immediate support from other Republicans was expressed for the ouster effort, some hard-liners refused to comment. Criticism against the removal of Speaker Johnson emerged among Republicans, with concerns about the potential harm to the country. Some lawmakers argued that there is no viable successor within the GOP conference who could effectively manage the party.

Representative Garret Graves from Louisiana predicted that if a vote on the ouster resolution were forced, it would likely fail on the floor. Graves emphasized the need to avoid repeating the divisive episode from last year, expressing doubt that there is sufficient motivation to initiate the removal process.

Given the current dynamics and differing opinions within the Republican Party, the fate of Speaker Mike Johnson remains uncertain. The resolution's ultimate outcome will depend on the level of support it garners from both Republicans and Democrats, as well as the potential emergence of alternative leadership contenders.