Trump boosts Johnson ahead of Speaker vote
President-elect Trump gave a public boost to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) hours before House lawmakers vote to determine whether he will keep the gavel to start the next Congress and amid uncertainty about whether Johnson has the requisite support.
"Good luck today for Speaker Mike Johnson, a fine man of great ability, who is very close to having 100% support," Trump posted on Truth Social. "A win for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party, and yet another acknowledgment of our 129 year most consequential Presidential Election!! - A BIG AFFIRMATION, INDEED. MAGA!"
The House will vote Friday afternoon for Speaker. Republicans hold an exceedingly slim majority in the chamber.
Johnson cannot afford to lose more than one Republican in the Speakership vote, assuming all members are present and voting. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has already said he will not vote for Johnson.
All Democrats are expected to be present Friday to vote for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), the Democratic whip’s office told The Hill, meaning Johnson will not get any wiggle room from their absences.
Other potential holdouts include Reps. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), Scott Perry (R-Pa.) and Andy Harris (R-Md.). Skeptics have spoken with Johnson to try and get assurances on matters like spending cuts in recent days.
Trump earlier this week gave Johnson a full-throated endorsement, making Friday's a vote a test of the president-elect's influence. The two met recently at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Trump allies have argued there is no other Republican who can win the necessary support to become Speaker. The president-elect's team has also warned that a messy, drawn out fight over the gavel could delay the certification of Trump's victory and undermine efforts to project unity at the start of his second term.
Johnson said Thursday he had not asked Trump to call potential GOP holdouts ahead of the Speaker vote. The president-elect reportedly spoke with Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) this week, but it's unclear if he has spoken to any other lawmakers.