Trump tests influence over GOP with Johnson Speakership vote
The strength of President-elect Trump’s influence over the razor-thin House Republican majority will get another major test Friday, when Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) aims to be reelected as Speaker.
Even with Trump’s endorsement of Johnson on Monday — “He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN,” Trump said of Johnson — the Speaker remains in a precarious position ahead of the vote on the opening day of the new Congress.
Several House Republicans have continued to withhold support for the Louisiana Republican despite the stamp of approval from the president-elect.
One Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.), has pledged to vote for a candidate other than Johnson, citing anger with how the Speaker handled government funding, Ukraine aid and other issues. And Massie signaled in a post on the social platform X on Monday that Trump’s endorsement is not changing his mind.
“I respect and support President Trump, but his endorsement of Mike Johnson is going to work out about as well as his endorsement of Speaker Paul Ryan. We’ve seen Johnson partner with the democrats to send money to Ukraine, authorize spying on Americans, and blow the budget,” Massie said.
Johnson can only afford one Republican defection in the Jan. 3 Speaker election, assuming all members are present and voting for a candidate. The House’s incoming 215 Democrats are all expected to vote for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), and Republicans are expected to have 219 members in attendance that day.
Several other Republicans are not explicitly opposing Johnson but stopping short of........
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