House Speaker Mike Johnson (R – LA) was confronted on all sides during a White House meeting with President Biden and fellow congressional leaders on Tuesday, according to Axios.
The meeting focused on government funding and Ukraine aid. The GOP-controlled House is the primary obstacle in heading off a partial government shutdown that would begin in March.
Johnson met with Democrats including Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Also present was GOP Senate Minority Leader McConnell.
McConnell teamed with Democrats to urge Johnson to bring an appropriations bill to the House floor and pass it.
Johnson was pressured by all to sway House Republicans to fall in line to avoid a partial government shutdown scheduled to begin on Friday.
After the meeting, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D – NY) said Johnson “said unequivocally he wants to avoid a government shutdown.”
“We made it clear that means not letting any of the … appropriations bills lapse, which means you need some [stopgap bills],” Schumer continued.
Schumer also said everyone at the meeting, including McConnell (R – KY), pressured Johnson to pass Ukraine aid as well.
According to The Hill, McConnel admitted Johnson could face a motion to vacate the Speaker’s chair if he angers House conservatives.
House Judiciary Dems posted on X that Jeffries (D – NY) said the meeting was “an intense meeting, it was an honest meeting, and ultimately it was a productive meeting.”
Leader Jeffries after White House meeting: It was an intense meeting, it was an honest meeting, and ultimately it was a productive meeting. pic.twitter.com/w4RH3jythK
— House Judiciary Dems (@HouseJudiciary) February 27, 2024
For his part, Johnson told reporters, “When I met with the White House and Congressional leaders today, my purpose was to express what I believe is the obvious truth: that we must take care of America’s needs first.”
America needs a secure border.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?533877-101/speaker-johnson-speaks-reporters-meeting-president-biden
“We have been working in good faith around the clock every single day for months and weeks, and over the last several days, quite literally around the clock to get that job done,” Johnson said.
“We’re very optimistic,” he added. “We believe that we can get to agreement on these issues and prevent a government shutdown, that’s our first responsibility.”
Johnson may not want to get into a battle with members of the House Freedom Caucus who have threatened to derail the legislation. Doing so could cost him his leadership job.
The Speaker of the House will have to decide where his loyalties lie and soon.
