President-elect Trump Republicans successfully rallied House Republicans on Friday to re-elect House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Los Angeles. – Overcoming deep divisions within the party and allaying concerns about Trump's ability to unite the party after the stunning collapse of the government spending bill late last month.
The bill saw 38 republican The dissidents and the threat of a partial government shutdown raised fears that Trump's tight grip on the Republican Party may be waning, fears that quickly faded on Friday evening after Trump was able to secure a majority of votes for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, whose party maintains a majority of the votes. A very narrow majority in the House who faced strong opposition from members of the Freedom Caucus in the House of Representatives.
Three Republicans originally voted against Johnson and seven others remained silent. Johnson's slim Republican majority allowed only one GOP defector, and after the first round of voting, it was unclear whether or how the party could overcome the odds.
Mike Johnson is re-elected Speaker of the House with the threat of GOP rebellion resolved
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Los Angeles, left, shakes hands with President-elect Trump at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Washington, D.C., on November 13, 2024. (Andrew Harnick/Getty Images)
Ultimately, all but one of the holdouts changed their vote, with many directly crediting Trump as evidence of his continued influence in the party.
At least two holdout Republicans who reversed course to support Johnson as president said they did so after multiple conversations with Trump.
Trump spoke by 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.
Self, one of the holdouts who changed his “no” vote on Johnson to a “yes” vote, told reporters on Friday that he reached the decision after several phone conversations with the president-elect.
“It was all about how to make Trump's agenda work,” Self told reporters of his decision to support Johnson. “We have to be strong as a Republican conference in order to make Trump's agenda as successful as possible. That's what this was all about.”
Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, arrives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., for a procedural vote on an eviction motion against House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on October 3, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
Norman later confirmed to reporters that he had spoken with Trump. “He just made his point about Mike being the only person who can be elected,” Norman said. He added that Trump did not change his vote but rather a “commitment that things will change” from Johnson.
sources He told Fox News on Friday That the president-elect was in “constant communication” with House Republicans throughout the process.
The 11 Republican members of the House Freedom Caucus, who sparred with Johnson over various provisions in the government spending bill late last month, didn't mince words. In a letter on Friday night, members said their decision to support Johnson was due solely to their support for the president-elect.
The letter, written by Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., and Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said they were backing Johnson “because of our unwavering support for President Trump, and to ensure the timely certification of his electors.” ”
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“We did so despite our sincere reservations regarding the Speaker of the House’s performance record over the past 15 months,” the letter said. He added: “Now, Prime Minister Johnson must prove that he will not fail to enact President Trump's bold agenda.”
For his part, Johnson directly thanked Trump in a letter Share on X.
“Thank you, President Trump! Today is a new day in America. Republicans in Congress must remain united in order to quickly implement President Trump's America First agenda,” he said. “Let's get this done.”
