BURSTRep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said Thursday she would be open to supporting Elon Musk for House Speaker, an idea proposed by other Republicans as Congress faces a government shutdown Friday night.
Musk railed against the continuing resolution (CR) negotiated by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) throughout Wednesday, helping tank the bill. Johnson is now considering alternative plans with less than two days until government funding runs out and with President-elect Trump now calling on lawmakers to lift the debt limit as part of a spending deal.
Greene, who heads the so-called DOGE caucus, part of Musks's efforts to cut government inefficiency, echoed sentiments from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) in suggesting the billionaire take an official role leading the House.
“I’d be open to supporting @elonmusk for Speaker of the House. DOGE can only truly be accomplished by reigning in Congress to enact real government efficiency,” Greene wrote Thursday on social platform X.
“The establishment needs to be shattered just like it was yesterday. This could be the way,” she added.
Minutes before, she issued a statement criticizing Johnson's leadership on the initial CR, which would have funded the government through March but was bound to require Democratic votes due to various additions, including an increase in lawmaker pay.
“Johnson needs to stop the same failed pattern making dirty swamp deals behind closed doors and keeping everyone in the dark,” she wrote on X.
“Republicans need to be working together to deliver the mandate. That requires big changes in behavior,” she continued.
Her comments come as Johnson's future as Speaker has suddenly come into question about two weeks before Republicans vote for their next leader, and with one GOP member — Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) — already opposing Johnson, who has a razor-slim margin in the House.
However, Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), chair of the House Freedom Caucus, said Wednesday that he still supported Johnson.
But he added, “There are a growing number of voices, both inside and outside the Freedom Caucus, who kind of shake their heads at what’s going on this week.”