How Mike Johnson is turning his razor-thin majority 'into an escape hatch': report

Last September, House Democrats did not hesitate to support US Rep. Matt Gaetz's (R-FL) ultimately successful ploy to oust former speaker, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

Now that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is also facing an ouster — mainly by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) — Democrats are united behind the Louisiana lawmaker.

"I'm not sure what goes into Marjorie's analysis," Johnson told Axios in a Thursday interview.

READ MORE: Saving Johnson’s speakership may be 'consequential' for Republicans facing tough primary races

The news outlet reports amid threats of removal, the speaker "has found ways to turn his tiny majority into an escape hatch, repeatedly reminding everyone that he — and only he — stands in the way of chaos that could sink the GOP's chances in November."

"I'm the most conservative member who has ever held the gavel as speaker, but the reality of our numbers [is] our challenge."

Johnson told Fox News host Jesse Watters last week, "Listen, we’re dealing with the smallest majority in U.S. history. We have a one-vote margin."

The Hill reports:

Johnson likened the situation to a game of football. He said some people want him to make a Hail Mary pass 'on every play,' which is not a 'game-winning strategy.'

'Right now, when you have this margin, is 3 yards and a cloud of dust, right? We get the next first down, we put points on the board, and we get to November and we take back and grow the majority.'

Johnson made the same comments to Axios Thursday, reiterating, "Some of my colleagues want us to throw Hail Mary passes on every play."

READ MORE: 'Unprecedented': GOP and Dems alike rage against Marjorie Taylor Greene’s push to oust Speaker Johnson

The news outlet notes that the speaker called next week's vote for his removal — initiated by Greene — "an 'unhelpful distraction' when his party is working to combat antisemitism and seeking to build their majority in November.