House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) explained his plan for foreign aid to Israel, Taiwan, and Israel during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” His remarks come amid a spirited debate over foreign aid in Congress, especially on the Republican side.

Johnson has met with resistance from the conservative wing of the party and has clashed with members of the Freedom Caucus over the issue. The situation has become so tense that Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) have threatened to oust the speaker from his position in a similar fashion to what happened to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

During the interview, Johnson discussed how he plans to separate bills related to foreign aid into three separate proposals for each country being discussed. “Listen, this is a better policy and a better process,” the Speaker said. “We got the Senate supplemental several weeks back, and it was everything sandwiched together.”

Johnson insisted that the House should “look at things in single-subject” and evaluate them “individually on their own merits.”

The Speaker explained that aid proposals for Israel, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific, along with national and foreign aid would be done separately.

"So, there's four separate bills. Everyone will be able to give it an up-and-down vote based on their own merits. And that's what -- that's what they desire. Now, listen, we made a better product as well, because there is -- Ukraine, as you know, is controversial. What we did, Jake, in this package, we changed it. Eighty percent of the spending for Ukraine is replenishment of American weapons and stocks. That's a really important thing for our own U.S. industrial base and defense base. And that's going to be a very important part of it. And we added other innovations that conservatives like and that make good sense. I mean, for the Ukraine piece, for example, any assistance that goes for governmental aid is converted to a loan. That's what a lot of people said was very important. And we implemented that. There's a lot of innovations here. And I think it's a better product in the end.”

Tapper brought up the threats to oust Johnson coming from Greene and Massie, an issue that is becoming more pressing as the debate over foreign aid intensifies. Instead of addressing the issue directly, Johnson recounted authoring the “Commitment to Civility” in which members of Congress agreed to “treat one another with dignity and respect.”

“I mean, I have vehement disagreements with my colleagues on the other side on the ideas and the legislation, but I don't hate anybody. I mean, we're supposed to regard one another as Americans and honor one another with dignity and respect. I think that's a human quality. I think it's about human dignity at the end of the day, and I think that's what we ought to advance here. And it saddens me that the institution has devolved to where it is, but I think we can bring it back. I'm an optimist, Jake. I always have been.”

Later in the interview, Tapper brought up the threats again. Johnson responded by saying he is “not focused on that” and affirmed that he is “focused on doing my job.”

The conversation turned to the situation between Ukraine and Russia with Tapper asking Johnson why House Republicans did not push aid for Ukraine months ago. “Ukraine is desperate for aid,” he said.

Johnson explained that “it takes a long time to socialize and build consensus when you have the smallest majority in U.S. history,” but confirmed that he is committed to supporting Ukraine and Israel.

"Look, we know what the timetable is. We know the urgency in Ukraine and in Israel. And we are going to stand by Israel, our close ally and dear friend, and we're going to stand for freedom and make sure that Vladimir Putin doesn't march through Europe. These are important responsibilities."

House Speaker Mike Johnson when asked about aid to Ukraine and Israel:

"We are going to stand by Israel, our close ally and dear friend, and we're going to stand for freedom and make sure that Vladimir Putin doesn't march through Europe." pic.twitter.com/rjCjvsYvHv

— Jeff Charles, An Awful Pundit🏴 (@jeffcharlesjr) April 17, 2024

Tapper also highlighted conservative Republican lawmakers, noting that some want border security addressed in the legislation. Johnson responded by pointing out that he is “operating with the smallest margin in U.S. history” and that he has “a one-vote margin.”

This margin is what led the Speaker to reach out to Democrats for support in getting the foreign aid packages advanced to the floor for a vote.

"So, in order to get something into this underlying package, we have to have the votes on the floor to pass a rule. That's how the process works here. The rule allows for the substantive bill to be put on the floor. I don't have all my Republicans who agree on that rule, and that means the only way to get a rule on the floor is that it requires a couple of Democrats."

However, Johnson acknowledged that Democrats are “not for the border security” which has made it necessary to push two separate packages, including one that contains a provision that would reinstate former President Donald Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy while putting an end to catch-and-release” and rebuilding the wall.

Johnson’s plan is still being debated in Congress and the discussion could become even more fiery as the Speaker navigates the foreign aid issue.