Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., has made it clear that he will not be voting for House Speaker Mike Johnson to retain the speakership next year. Massie stated that Johnson does not have his vote and even hinted that it would take a 'Christmas miracle' for him to change his mind.
Earlier this year, Massie supported Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in an attempt to remove Johnson from the speakership, but the effort was ultimately unsuccessful as the majority of members from both parties voted against it.
This week, Johnson advocated for a government spending measure that spanned over 1,500 pages, aiming to prevent a partial government shutdown. The measure also included provisions for disaster relief funding and aid for farmers.
While some lawmakers like Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., defended the spending measure as essential for governing, conservatives criticized it, and even prominent figures like Elon Musk voiced their opposition.
President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance called for the passage of a streamlined spending bill that does not cater to Democrat demands, emphasizing the need to support farmers, provide disaster relief, and set the country up for success in 2025.
Massie further criticized Johnson by sharing an AI-generated image on social media, depicting the speaker holding a hose while a house burned in the background. This act was accompanied by a tweet from Massie likening US foreign aid spending to watering the neighbor's yard while one's own house is on fire.
