The honeymoon phase is over between Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson met with President Joe Biden along with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to discuss a proposed bill to provide security spending for Israel and Ukraine, among other aspects of national security. As a result, Republicans have demanded that any spending to support Ukraine be tied to provisions restricting immigration, which they have billed as “border security.” But now, Mr Johnson is facing criticism from his fellow House Republicans, and the negotiations with the president and fellow congressional leaders could threaten his speakership. “It would be like continuing murdering a bunch of people at this point.” Rep Eli Crane of Arizona – one of the eight Republicans who voted to remove Mr McCarthy – for his part said he worried that Mr Johnson would cave to the Democrats. “In return, we're not going to get a secure southern border.” Of course, this anger from conservatives is incredibly self-serving and only seeks to increase their own brands since it gives conservative voters grandiose expectations that somehow, Mr Johnson could somehow get a staunchly conservative wishlist bill on immigration when Republicans only have one half of one chamber of Congress while Democrats control the Senate and the White House.