It’s been a tumultuous week in Washington, with the spotlight once again swinging toward House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene as internal Republican tensions play out in full public view. The latest flare-up centers on Greene’s accusation that Johnson is guilty of hypocrisy for dismissing questions about a protective order issued against fellow Republican Rep. Cory Mills, while the House remains paralyzed by a protracted government shutdown and a string of high-profile controversies.
On October 16, 2025, as the 119th Congress convened for its first day, Speaker Johnson and Rep. Greene were seen talking on the House floor—a moment captured by Getty Images and emblematic of the uneasy alliance and frequent clashes that have come to define their relationship. By the following day, Greene’s criticisms had become headline news. In an interview with Axios, she took direct aim at Johnson for what she described as a double standard in the handling of recent scandals involving House Republicans.
"They expelled George Santos, Mike Johnson did. He was Speaker and oversaw George Santos being expelled. Why isn't he doing anything about Cory Mills?" Greene told Axios on October 16. She was referring to the restraining order issued against Rep. Mills after his ex-girlfriend, Lindsay Langston, accused him of threatening to release sexually explicit photos and videos following their breakup. Greene argued, "There's clearly proof behind her accusations that a judge is issuing a restraining order. So I would say to Speaker Johnson, this is a serious matter, and it needs to be taken seriously."
Greene’s comments are the latest in a pattern that has marked her time in Congress: supporting party leaders when it aligns with her agenda, and scorching them when she feels they fall short. Her willingness to call out her own party has, somewhat unexpectedly, drawn praise from across the aisle. Senator Bernie Sanders, for example, recently described her as one of the "decent, honest Republicans."
Speaker Johnson, for his part, has largely brushed off Greene’s attacks. At a press conference on October 17, he told reporters, "I try not to react to what Marjorie Taylor Greene says every day...Somebody told me she accused me of ousting Santos, which, of course is the exact opposite of the history." Johnson went on to clarify that he did not vote to expel former Rep. George Santos, who was ousted from Congress in December 2023 and is now serving an 87-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to identity theft and wire fraud. Johnson explained his position at the time, saying on "Fox and Friends," "Our party believes in the rule of law and due process, and we're deeply concerned about preserving those things. And, you know, maybe he will be convicted by a jury of his peers, but that hasn't happened yet. And that's why we had reservations about it."
Despite Johnson’s insistence, Greene maintains that the Speaker bears responsibility for the House’s actions, especially when it comes to holding members accountable. She pointed out the contrast between the swift expulsion of Santos and the inaction regarding Mills, who has denied all allegations against him. "Why isn’t he doing anything about Cory Mills?" Greene asked pointedly, underscoring her belief that the party should apply its standards consistently, regardless of political convenience.
The Mills controversy isn’t the only front on which Greene has broken ranks with her party’s leadership. She’s also been an outspoken critic of Johnson’s approach to the ongoing government shutdown, which, as of October 17, 2025, has dragged on for three weeks. The House hasn’t voted for almost a month, with Johnson refusing to bring lawmakers back into session until the Senate passes the House’s funding proposal. According to Axios, this hardline stance has both emboldened and angered Johnson, as the impasse shows no sign of resolution and frustration mounts among members on both sides of the aisle.
Greene’s appetite for confrontation extends beyond the current shutdown and the Mills case. She was one of only four Republicans to sign Rep. Thomas Massie’s discharge petition to unseal files related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation—a move she claims most GOP colleagues avoided out of fear of retribution from party leadership. Greene told Axios that she plans to read a list of Epstein’s victims on the House floor soon, saying, "These are people that, if they get exposed, they got a lot to lose. And when people are in that position, that makes you concerned." She predicted the discharge petition could eventually garner as many as 400 votes in the House, suggesting broad, if quiet, support for greater transparency on the matter.
Her willingness to challenge her own party has sometimes left Greene isolated. She stunned colleagues when she sided with Democrats on extending expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies, and she has publicly cast doubt on Johnson’s government shutdown strategy. "If me saying those things are considered breaking with my party, then what is the Republican Party?" she said on October 16, raising questions about the party’s direction and values in a period of deep internal division.
As for her own political future, Greene signaled her intention to seek reelection in 2026 but ruled out any Senate or gubernatorial bids, describing the Senate as "the land of frustration" and quipping, "I don't want to serve in a place more frustrating than the House." Her comments reflect a broader mood of dissatisfaction and restlessness within the Republican ranks, as lawmakers grapple with the fallout from the shutdown, leadership disputes, and a string of personal scandals.
Meanwhile, Speaker Johnson remains immovable on the shutdown, insisting that the House will not reconvene until the Senate passes his chamber’s funding bill. According to Axios, time has only emboldened—and angered—him, as the standoff continues and the cost to federal workers and public services mounts. Johnson’s approach has drawn both praise and criticism from within his own party, with some viewing his resolve as principled and others as needlessly rigid.
The ongoing saga highlights the deep fissures within the Republican caucus, with Greene’s confrontational style serving as both a catalyst for debate and a lightning rod for controversy. Her latest clash with Johnson over the Mills case and the government shutdown underscores a broader struggle over the party’s identity, priorities, and willingness to hold its own members accountable. As the impasse drags on and new scandals emerge, the coming months promise more fireworks—and, perhaps, more opportunities for Greene and Johnson to spar in the national spotlight.
For now, the House remains at a standstill, the shutdown grinds on, and the Republican Party’s internal divisions show no sign of healing. The questions raised by Greene and the responses from Johnson are emblematic of a Congress in flux, wrestling with old grudges, fresh scandals, and the ever-present challenge of governing in an era of heightened partisanship and public scrutiny.
