House Speaker Mike Johnson gave himself a pat on the back on Wednesday as he defended his tenure from critics including firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Johnson told reporters at an impromptu news conference that his speakership term was among the most difficult ever.
"By all admission, this has been one of the most complicated speakerships in the history of the Congress," he said.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) was on the warpath against Johnson (R-LA) again earlier this month
In an interview with CNN's Manu Raju, Greene declared that she was not at all satisfied with Johnson's plan — which later failed — to attach a new law mandating proof of citizenship as a prerequisite to voter registration to a must-pass government spending bill.
On Wednesday, Johnson pointed to an opinion piece penned by former Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-GA) who, served as House speaker from 1995 to 1999, in which Gingrich said it was the most challenging speakership since the Civil War.
"I want to make something crystal clear: House Speaker Mike Johnson is doing an excellent job," Gingrich wrote earlier this year.
"Lately, far too many people — with no real knowledge about or experience in leading Congress — have had too many criticisms. As a former speaker, I assure you they have no idea how complicated the job really is.
ALSO READ: Why Trump is barely campaigning
Mr. Johnson has the most challenging speakership since the Civil War over 150 years ago."
Johnson joked that he called up Gingrich following the piece and asked, "Newt, are you trying to encourage me?"
Gingrich replied that he wanted to make it known Johnson was doing an "excellent job" — and that the the "job has become impossible" given a historically small margin.
"Smallest in U.S. history for about 5 months," Johnson noted. "One-vote margin."
The 2023-25 Congress has a slim Republican majority of 222-213.
"I think we navigated some really difficult terrain in unprecedented and challenging times. And we're going to get through it and we're going to win the election cycle because of that. I intend, having been forced through that fire and developed that leadership, I intend to offer my services for that going forward," he said.
Watch the clip below or at this link.