House Democrats led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, left, announced they would oppose Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's effort to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson. (Getty Images)
Their decision was announced right at the beginning of Johnson's weekly House GOP leadership press conference, prompting a flurry of questions from reporters.
"I have to do my job, we have to do what we believe to be the right thing. What the country needs right now is a functioning Congress," Johnson said when asked his reaction. "We need people who are serious about the job here."
Johnson appeared unaware of Democratic leaders' decision beforehand and said he did not discuss a motion to vacate with Jeffries earlier this month when Democratic voters were critical to passing Johnson's $95 billion foreign aid plan.
3RD REPUBLICAN CALLS FOR SPEAKER JOHNSON'S OUSTER OVER $95B FOREIGN AID PLAN
It appears there is not as much of an appetite for ousting House Speaker Mike Johnson as there was to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, pictured here. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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However, with the razor-thin majority Johnson oversees, it quickly became clear that Democratic support would likely be needed to keep him in power.
That does not necessarily mean Democrats have to vote against ousting Johnson – if Greene noticed her resolution as "privileged," meaning the House would need to take it up within two days, it would first trigger a vote to table her measure, effectively killing it. Democratic leaders signaled in their Tuesday statement that they would block it in the initial vote.
Fox News Digital reached out to Greene's office for comment.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-dems-say-theyll-block-marjorie-taylor-greene-ousting-speaker-johnson