Marjorie Taylor Greene Says Speaker Mike Johnson Is 'Under Direct Orders' From White House — GOP Tensions Escalate

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) charged that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is operating 'under direct orders from the White House' and argued he does not genuinely lead House Republicans.

What Greene Said

In a lengthy interview with The New York Times, Greene — who is set to resign from the House in January — bluntly criticized Johnson's leadership role. She said she does not view him as the conference's leader and accused him of following directives from the White House rather than asserting independent control of the House agenda.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., is set to resign from the House in January.

'I want you to know that Johnson is not our Speaker. He is not our leader,' Greene said. 'And in the legislative branch — a totally separate body of government — he is literally 100 percent under direct orders from the White House. And many, many Republicans are so furious about that, but they're cowards.'

Background: The Greene–Trump Feud

The remark follows months of public friction between Greene and former President Donald Trump after Greene pushed to release documents tied to investigations into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump withdrew his endorsement of Greene during the dispute and publicly called her a 'traitor.'

Johnson's Response

When asked for comment, Johnson’s office pointed to remarks he made in November on FOX Business in which he described himself as a 'jealous guardian of Article One of the Constitution.' Johnson emphasized the primacy of the legislative branch while also saying the president had used tariff authority wisely and that courts should respect the authority of the Article Two branch.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., heads from his office to the chamber for the final vote to bring the longest government shutdown in history to an end, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025.

'I'm a jealous guardian of Article One of the Constitution. I mean, the legislative branch is the most important. And I'm in charge of that in the House,' Johnson said in November.

White House Reaction

White House spokesman Davis Ingle pushed back, defending former President Trump’s leadership and criticizing Greene for her upcoming resignation. Ingle told The New York Times that Trump remains the driving force behind the MAGA movement and accused Greene of abandoning her constituents amid ongoing fights in Congress.

Broader GOP Frustrations

Greene's criticism echoes frustration among other House Republicans. Several members have publicly complained about Johnson’s tactics and the conference’s strategic direction:

• Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) cited concerns about leadership decisions related to redistricting fights and long absences from Washington, saying the House has not been in the 'driver's seat' on many key issues.
• Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) said Johnson has stalled her effort to establish a National Women’s Museum, despite bipartisan sponsorship of the measure.
• Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) expressed frustration over how Johnson handled the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), saying members were forced into difficult choices over military pay and priorities.
• Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) went so far as to write that Democrats' former Speaker Nancy Pelosi had been a more effective leader than any Republican this century, arguing many rank-and-file members feel marginalized.

What This Means

The dispute between Greene and Johnson is one component of wider tensions inside the House GOP as members head into a period of departures, legislative fights, and intra-party disagreements. The public airing of grievances underscores ongoing debates about strategy, leadership, and the balance of power between the White House and Congress.

Reporting credits: Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.