President-elect Trump appears to have helped House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Los Angeles, avoid a long, messy battle for House leadership.
Trump spoke on the phone with both Reps. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., and Keith Self, R-Texas, after they initially voted for people other than Johnson for speaker, two sources familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital.
Self and Norman were seen disappearing into a side room with Johnson and others after the roll call vote was completed, but before voting officially closed.
They came out minutes later and announced that they would vote for Johnson, which cemented the Louisiana Republican's victory.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson won re-election to lead the House with the support of President-elect Donald Trump. (AP/Getty)
Self then confirmed to reporters that he spoke with Trump on the phone several times on Friday.
“I talked to him a few times today,” Self said. “We had a lively discussion.”
Self did not go into further details about the contents of the discussion.
But the two people who spoke with Fox News Digital said Rep. Nancy Mace connected Trump with Self and Norman over the phone after they voted against Johnson.
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Rep. Nancy Mace linked the naysayers to Trump, two people said. (Getty Images)
Mace did not comment, but Fox News Digital saw her and Johnson sharing a hug on the House floor after they and others were in the breakout chamber with opponents.
She was also seen having intense conversations with Norman outside the House chamber earlier.
Norman later confirmed to reporters that he spoke with Trump on Friday.
Johnson won the House of Representatives leadership in the first round of voting, after initially appearing to be on the verge of losing.
Representative Keith Self confirmed that he spoke with Trump. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Self, Norman and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., all voted for people other than Johnson, appearing to put the speaker's gavel out of reach.
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But House leaders have not formally concluded the vote while determining the way forward. Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers were asked to be on the House floor immediately in preparation for the second vote.
But the second vote did not take place, and Johnson was sworn in as president on Friday afternoon.
