In an try to salvage Home Speaker Mike Johnson’s profession, Donald Trump took to Reality Social to endorse the Louisiana Republican in a rambling put up days earlier than the brand new Congress is ready to carry its management vote.
After slamming Vice President Kamala Harris’ marketing campaign’s spending and bragging about his presidential victory, Trump mentioned that Johnson ought to be reelected speaker to assist him move his agenda.
“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!!!” Trump wrote.
But it surely’s unclear whether or not Trump’s last-minute foray into the speaker race will get Johnson over the end line.
Republicans are offended at Johnson for negotiating with Democrats to maintain the federal government funded, with 38 Republicans defying each Johnson and Trump—who helped negotiate the final word funding settlement—and voting in opposition to the invoice.
Republicans additionally defied Trump by not together with a debt ceiling enhance within the funding deal that handed on Dec. 20, revealing {that a} sizable faction of the Home GOP is keen to buck Trump.
Up to now, Rep. Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky, mentioned on X that he’ll vote in opposition to Johnson. Equally, Rep. Victoria Spartz, Republican of Indiana, signaled on Monday that Johnson has numerous work to do to win her vote. Spartz, who was elected as a Republican, mentioned she’s going to not take part within the Republican convention.
“Our next speaker must show courageous leadership to get our country back on track before this ‘Titanic’ strikes an iceberg at any moment,” Spartz wrote in a rambling assertion.
Roughly a dozen different Republicans are on the fence.
Rep. Chip Roy, Republican of Texas, who feuded with Trump throughout the federal government funding mess, is gauging whether or not Rep. Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio, ought to get within the race. Different Republicans have floated Trump’s co-president Elon Musk as a attainable speaker candidate.
Finally, with Republicans’ extraordinarily slim Home majority, Johnson cannot afford to lose votes from his caucus if he needs the gavel. Republicans may have simply 219 seats when the brand new Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3, as former Rep. Matt Gaetz gained’t be taking the seat he gained in November.
Even when Trump’s endorsement will get some of the fence sitters again in Johnson’s camp, simply two defections may derail Johnson’s bid. If Johnson can’t garner a majority on Friday, Congress can be thrown right into a state of chaos—once more.
With no speaker in place, Congress can’t maintain a joint session on Jan. 6 to certify Trump’s 2024 presidential victory.
As Politico reported, “Congress is legally required to convene on Jan. 6 to certify the election results. But without a speaker, the House won’t be able to establish rules governing how it operates. And members who would need to vote on any successful objection can’t be sworn in until after those rules are adopted.”
Republicans have confirmed that they’re keen to go with out a speaker. In January 2023, it took 15 rounds of voting for the GOP convention to coalesce round Kevin McCarthy. A number of months later, in October, the Home was with out a speaker for 22 days after Gaetz ousted McCarthy with none substitute in thoughts. That chaotic mess is what led to Johnson’s speakership.
It already appears like the beginning of the 119th Congress goes to be a catastrophe of Republicans’ personal making. Get your popcorn prepared.
