RNC Chair Michael Whatley urges party unity amid GOP turmoil in the House

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley urged party unity when asked about Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's threat to force a vote to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson this week, months before House Republicans defend their slim majority in the November elections.

"We need to flip the Senate, and we need to expand our majority in the House. We're not going to do that if we're not unified," Whatley said during an interview with NBC News when asked for his message to Republicans backing Johnson's ouster.

"We need to make sure that all of the Republicans understand the gravity of this election cycle, and they do, and we need to make sure that we are on the same page as we're moving forward," he continued.

Whatley's plea for unity comes just days before Johnson's grip on his chamber faces a key test.

Greene, R-Ga., said last week that she will call a motion to vacate for Johnson, R-La., forcing members of both parties to consider whether they will vote to save his speakership.

Democrats have already said they will oppose Greene's motion, effectively defending Johnson's speakership, a role he took on after Kevin McCarthy was booted in October.

Whatley, former President Donald Trump's hand-picked choice to helm the RNC, was elected as the committee's chair in March to succeed Ronna McDaniel. Just months into his position, he faces the major task of shaping the party organization in the image of the former president, who hand-picked him for the position after publicly casting doubt on Whatley's predecessor Ronna McDaniel's ability to lead the party apparatus.

McDaniel had agreed to resign after facing criticism from fellow Republicans about the party’s underperformances in recent elections. In