Ahead of weekend votes that will put his job on the line, House Speaker Mike Johnson has unleashed a mystery on Capitol Hill by declining to box out Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's effort to oust him over foreign aid.

Why it matters: Multiple House Republicans were surprised Johnson said he lacked the votes to change how many members it takes to bring up a motion to vacate.

• Among moderates, the sentiment Thursday — without clear evidence of any ask — is that Democrats must have asked for more than Johnson was willing to give in exchange for their help to change the rule.
• Johnson's office declined to comment.

The big picture: This saga is part of a pattern for Johnson that's frustrated even his most loyal supporters.

• On Wednesday, Johnson boldly said he was willing to risk his job for Ukraine aid, and every member should get to vote.
• Thursday, he said the Kevin McCarthy-era changes to the rules on ousting speakers were bad for the GOP and the speakership itself, but that he wouldn't put further tweaks to a vote because he didn't have a House majority to support that move.

What's next: Johnson will now attempt to push through a foreign aid package without a paired protection for his job, all but guaranteeing he'll face a leadership challenge in the coming days.

• You can expect Democrats to bail out Johnson this time, but the prospect of future motions to vacate are very real.