WASHINGTON — Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said Wednesday he agrees with fellow Kentuckian, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Crescent Springs, who is calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to step down from leadership or face a vote forcing him out.

“I think Thomas Massie’s doing the right thing,” Paul told Spectrum News. “I think that the Republicans need real leadership. We need to use our power … Why does the debt keep getting bigger, even when Republicans are in charge of the House? I think we need somebody that has some courage and some intestinal fortitude.”

Massie announced Tuesday he is co-sponsoring a resolution by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., that could lead to Johnson’s removal.

“It's not just like the right flank of the conference that is upset with him,” Massie said Tuesday. “We’ve devolved into 'Lord of the Flies.' There's no order.”

Johnson has shared a plan that, as of Wednesday, includes more than $26 billion for Israel and $60 billion for Ukraine, as well as funding for Taiwan. He also voted against a warrant requirement for foreign surveillance legislation.

Johnson lost Paul’s support when he backed spending more than $1 trillion to keep the government open, the senator said.

“The idea that he sided with the majority of Democrats, a majority of Republicans didn't like the spending bill, thought it had too much debt,” Paul said. “The thing is, is we should have some power of the purse.”

Johnson said Tuesday that he was not resigning and the motion to remove him “does not help the House Republicans advance our agenda.”

President Joe Biden said he strongly supports the aid package and "the House must pass the package this week.”