JUST IN: Trump Issues Endorsement For House Speaker Race
After weeks of letting U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) twist in the wind, President-elect Donald Trump is finally weighing on the Republican leader’s future.
A lengthy statement by Trump, issued on Truth Social Monday morning, expressed full support for the embattled Republican leader less than two weeks after he negotiated a bill to continue funding the federal government, and just days before the House Speakership election. An initial bill put up by Johnson, which included line items for a host of priorities opposed by conservatives, was defeated when 38 Republicans objected, calling into question Johnson’s ability to retain the gavel when the GOP’s majority narrows to less than a handful of members next year. Based on his supportive words, it appears President-elect Trump believes the best option for steady Republican leadership next year is the current speaker.
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“We are the Party of COMMON SENSE, a primary reason that we WON, in a landslide, the magnificent and historic Presidential Election of 2024. ALL SEVEN SWING STATES, 312 ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES, AND THE POPULAR VOTE BY MILLIONS OF VOTERS… ALL WON WITH EASE, CALM, & PROFESSIONALISM,” Trump wrote. “LETS NOT BLOW THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY WHICH WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN. The American people need IMMEDIATE relief from all of the destructive policies of the last Administration. Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement. MAGA!!!”
🚨 🚨 🚨 BREAKING: Trump endorses Mike Johnson for Speaker of the House pic.twitter.com/RqNQ1dpOA3
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) December 30, 2024
Washington, D.C., has been chattering about Johnson’s future since a continuing resolution was passed just hours before the government would have run out of money on December 20th, and every day that crept by without a statement from Trump amplified concerns that he was losing faith in the Louisiana Republican’s ability to manage an unruly caucus. Some members, including Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Andy Harris (R-MD), openly questioned Johnson’s ability to lead House Republicans in interviews this week, according to Politico, while Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), a former House Freedom Caucus Chair, told Fox News he is “keeping [his] options open” with regards to the speakership race. “I’ll tell you the one that might be able to make the difference is, quite honestly, President Trump,” Perry said on Friday. “Whoever the president backs is likely to be the speaker, regardless.”
Fresh in the minds of House members is the bruising fight that took place last year following the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, one which plunged the caucus into four bitter weeks of a leadership vacuum where conservatives were denied a victory when Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) failed to secure enough votes. Johnson emerged as the unlikely gavel holder, promising to elevate both fiscal and social conservatism to the forefront of the GOP’s priorities. “Our mission here is to serve you well and to restore the people’s faith in this House,” Johnson said when accepting the position in October of 2023.
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