Trump Playfully Urges Marjorie Taylor Greene to Be Nice to Speaker Johnson

In a closed-door meeting of the House Republican Conference on Thursday, former President Donald Trump made a lighthearted attempt to smooth over the tense relationship between Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). Jack Gruber, Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK

According to CNN, multiple sources present at the meeting said Trump directly addressed Greene, jokingly asking her, "Are you being nice to Speaker Johnson?" Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK

The former President's quip came just a month after Greene had initiated a motion to vacate against Johnson, seeking to remove him from the Speaker's chair. However, the effort was swiftly tabled with the support of Democrats and most Republicans. Jack Gruber/USA TODAY / USA TODAY NETWORK

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Greene recounted the interaction, sharing Trump's words: "President Trump saw me, I don't know how he saw me because I was sitting a ways back, and he said hello Marjorie, and he joked and he said, 'Are you being nice to Speaker Johnson?' And I said 'eh,'" Greene said, waving her hand back and forth. "And he goes, 'OK, you be nice to him.'" Alex Hicks / USA TODAY NETWORK

While urging Greene to play nice with the Speaker, Trump also praised the firebrand congresswoman, according to Greene. Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

"And then he also said, he said, 'She's loyal to me. She shows up wherever I go, she supports me,' and he told everyone in the room that I'm very capable, and I always appreciate President Trump." ALEX HICKS JR./STAFF / USA TODAY NETWORK

As he gears up for the general election campaign, Trump appears to be trying to keep the peace between his staunch allies, like Greene, and party leadership. CHRIS LACHALL/USA TODAY NETWORK ATLANTIC GROUP / USA TODAY NETWORK

However, the tension between Greene and Johnson has been simmering since Johnson assumed the Speaker's role following the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). CQ Roll Call / USA TODAY NETWORK

Greene has been a vocal critic of Johnson's policy decisions, particularly on issues like Ukraine aid, government funding, and warrantless spying powers. Her motion to vacate against the Speaker was ultimately unsuccessful. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY

As the 2024 election season heats up, all eyes will be on Trump's ability to navigate the competing factions within his party and present a united front to voters. Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Thursday's closed-door meeting provided a glimpse into the former President's efforts to bridge the gaps, even if it meant using a bit of humor to defuse the situation between two of his most prominent supporters. CQ Roll Call / USA TODAY NETWORK