Tensions flared in the House of Representatives Thursday when a group of conservatives confronted Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., over his foreign aid plan, leading another Republican to exchange barbs with the rebel group.
A group of lawmakers including Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., and others could be seen huddled with Johnson on the House floor after the morning votes.
The discussion appeared to be cut short shortly afterward when Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., confronted the group and ended in a particularly heated back-and-forth with Gaetz. Van Orden later told Fox News Digital that he called Gaetz “tubby” and challenged GOP rebels to call a vote to oust Johnson – a threat he faces from Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky. ., who were not in the group.
Gaetz later told reporters that the conversation with Johnson was “tense” and that they were expressing opposition to his proposed $95 billion separate bills for aid to Ukraine, Israel and Indo -Peaceful.
'Definition of insanity': Frustrated House Republicans blast GOP rebels' threat to OUST JOHNSON
President Mike Johnson faced conservatives in the House. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
This comes as Johnson faces backlash from right-wing members of his conference over the plan, which is about the same cost as the Senate's combined funding plan for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan adopted earlier this year.
“We don't want to pass his bill. The only victory we have in the House of Representatives is blocking the Senate's extra session. If we have to throw in the towel on that, what do we do here?” » asked Gaetz.
A key difference in Johnson's plan is that House members vote separately on each of the bills before sending them in a combined package to the Senate – to give lawmakers the opportunity to take a position on each issue and separate the politically tense subject of Ukraine. .
But conservatives balked at the lack of U.S. border security provisions tied to the Ukraine bill. Indeed, a Republican lawmaker familiar with the House showdown told Fox News Digital that they were pushing Johnson to consider options including border policy rather than moving forward with his planned foreign aid vote SATURDAY.
“I thought we were making real progress, and then I asked a member to stand up and start swearing at people,” the Republican lawmaker said.
JOHNSON WILL LIKELY BE FORCED TO GET DEM AID ON FOREIGN AID PLAN AS REPUBLICANS DECRIBE LACK OF BORDER MEASURES
Wisconsin Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden came to Johnson's defense during the back-and-forth. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
They were almost certainly referring to Van Orden, who later told Fox News Digital that he joined the fray because he noticed the speaker needed a “swimming buddy,” a term for a teammate that Van Orden borrowed from his days in the Navy SEALs.
“Gaetz was addressing the speaker on a topic that I just didn’t think was appropriate,” Van Orden said.
“They start calling me stupid – incredibly juvenile things. And then I said something like 'Kick rocks, tubby' to Matt… And the reason I did that was because Matt Gaetz is a bully. He just stood up in my face, and I'm not going to be intimidated by this guy.
Van Orden is one of several rank-and-file Republicans who have accused members of the House Freedom Caucus and their allies of harming the conference with harsh tactics against fellow GOP lawmakers.
He said he challenged them to follow through on their threats to seek a motion to rescind, a procedural maneuver that would trigger a vote on ousting the president.
MASSIE THREATENS TO AVOID PRESIDENT JOHNSON IF HE DOES NOT REIGN FROM FOREIGN AID PLAN
Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz said Van Orden was “not a particularly intelligent individual.” (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
When asked later about his confrontation with Van Orden, Gaetz called it “very confusing and concerning.”
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“The only thing I got out of it is that Mr. Van Orden is not a particularly intelligent individual,” Gaetz said.
He added that his confidence in Johnson was “diminishing” because of his actions on foreign aid.
Currently, a vote on these bills is expected Saturday evening. Another border security bill that Johnson introduced to assuage GOP concerns was rejected Thursday night before it could be brought to the House floor by conservatives who accused Johnson of presenting it as a messaging bill without real momentum.