Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was re-elected to a different time period within the Home after two Republican dissenters flipped final minute in a ground vote on Friday — with President-elect Donald Trump personally intervening to close down the opposition.
Johnson, 52, was staring down a razor-thin Republican majority within the Home, with 219 members of his personal celebration seated for the beginning of the session and 215 Democrats, that means he might solely afford to lose one vote and nonetheless win the speaker’s gavel with a 218-vote majority.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who has been a thorn in Johnson’s facet nearly for the reason that Louisiana Republican ascended to the place in October 2023, had additionally declared earlier than the midday vote kicked off that he wouldn’t be casting his poll for the incumbent speaker below any circumstances.
That gave the incoming speaker no margin for error, with 434 members current and each Democrat making ready to vote for Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
Within the first spherical of voting, Massie wasted no time casting his poll for Home Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.).
He was adopted by different rebels, together with Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), who supported Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for the speakership, and Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas), who wished Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), successfully dooming Johnson’s bid.
Some Republicans instantly went to contact members of President-elect Donald Trump’s staff because the vote was showing to move to a second spherical.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) was photographed speaking on the telephone with Trump’s chief-of-staff Susie Wiles from the Home ground.
Trump, 78, additionally spoke to Norman and Self on speakerphone after being introduced in by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), in accordance with Fox Information.
The incoming president stated it could be “disrespectful” to voters to have the speaker vote go right into a second or third poll, including that it could even be “disrespectful to me.”
“Fellas, we now have rather a lot to do. Let’s get to it,” Trump advised the members, per Fox Information.
When the disgruntled duo returned to the ground, each flipped their votes in favor of Johnson, bringing him over the bulk threshold with a ultimate vote depend of 218.
The president-elect has been eager on confirming his nominees shortly within the Senate and getting a bundle of border safety adjustments applied on Day One.
Fiscal hawks within the Republican convention had accused Johnson of mismanaging his speakership function through the 118th Congress and getting bent over a barrel by Democrats in funding negotiations — together with the latest spending invoice handed final month that’s preserving the federal government’s lights on till March.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), who didn’t vote towards Johnson, launched a letter after the speaker vote outlining the grievances he and different Republicans had.
Although many had shunned following via in a full-blown mutiny towards Johnson, Roy stated they nonetheless anticipated adjustments to be applied — resembling modifying the Home calendar to have extra working days, reconciliation packages decreasing spending and the deficit, enable members to make amendments on payments and eliminate the “72-hour” rule.
Johnson advised Politico after the vote that he had made no concessions in his backroom discussions with Self and Norman earlier than profitable the gavel.
The Texas Republican additionally wrote that he hopes Johnson will maintain true to Trump’s agenda by serving to to safe the southern border, lower inflationary spending, finish inventory buying and selling for members of Congress, reverse President Biden’s Inexperienced New Deal subsidies and pupil mortgage handouts — and extra.
All 215 Democrats backed Jeffries within the vote — with even former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi flying out from California the day earlier than regardless of nonetheless recovering from a damaged hip.
Jeffries commented on the Republican unrest through the first spherical of votes, writing on X, “The GOP Civil Battle is in full swing. And it’s solely Day 1.”
Trump made clear days earlier than that he wished Republicans to vote for Johnson, sending out a number of Fact Social posts endorsing him.
He was the primary to have a good time after Johnson gained the speakership vote.
“Congratulations to Speaker Mike Johnson for receiving an unprecedented Vote of Confidence in Congress. Mike will likely be a Nice Speaker, and our Nation would be the beneficiary,” the incoming president cheered on Fact Social.
“The Folks of America have waited 4 years for Frequent Sense, Energy, and Management. They’ll get it now, and America will likely be larger than ever earlier than!”
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