President-elect Donald Trump announced his strong support for Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday, stepping into a heated battle over the House gavel set to be decided by a vote later this week.
“Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hardworking, and deeply religious man,” Trump declared in a lengthy social media post. “He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement.”
The endorsement marks a crucial boost for Johnson, whose grip on the speakership remains uncertain. With a razor-thin GOP majority in the House, Trump’s backing could sway hardline Republicans to rally behind Johnson ahead of the pivotal certification of the 2024 election on January 6.
Every vote will be critical. If all members are present and voting, Johnson can afford to lose no more than two GOP members to retain his leadership when the House reconvenes on Friday.
The battle for the House speakership intensified as President-elect Donald Trump threw his weight behind Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday, endorsing him amid growing Republican infighting. Trump’s backing comes as Johnson faces a razor-thin margin to retain his gavel, with the resignation of former Rep. Matt Gaetz leaving the House at 434 members—219 Republicans and 215 Democrats. Johnson can afford only one defection; a second would block his path.
At least one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, has already voiced opposition to Johnson, while others remain undecided.
The speaker vote follows months of tension within the GOP, heightened by a near-government shutdown in December. Frustrations boiled over during a bitter fight over a bipartisan spending bill. Billionaire Elon Musk, tapped by Trump to lead the new “Department of Government Efficiency,” criticized the original funding measure on X, sparking internal discord. Trump later rejected the bill, demanding it include provisions to raise or eliminate the nation’s debt ceiling—an idea Musk publicly supported.
Despite intense negotiations, the bipartisan bill failed, as did subsequent measures tied to Trump’s demands. A last-minute compromise bill passed just 38 minutes past the deadline on December 21, averting a full shutdown but leaving scars within the GOP.
On Monday, Musk joined Trump in endorsing Johnson, writing on X, “I feel the same way! You have my full support,” in response to Johnson thanking Trump. However, neither Musk nor Trump mentioned the contentious debt ceiling in their endorsements.
Yet Trump’s endorsement failed to sway some skeptics. Massie dismissed it, likening Johnson’s leadership to that of former Speaker Paul Ryan. “We’ve seen Johnson partner with Democrats to send money to Ukraine, authorize spying on Americans, and blow the budget,” Massie wrote on X, reaffirming his decision to vote against Johnson.
Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz expressed her hesitation, demanding clear commitments from Johnson on advancing Trump’s agenda. “President Trump can save America only if we have a speaker with courage, vision, and a plan,” Spartz wrote on X. She also suggested Johnson lacks public assurances to fulfill his constitutional duties and deliver on the president-elect’s goals to “drain the swamp.”
Spartz hinted at other Republicans quietly eyeing the gavel but declined to name them, as they have not openly opposed Johnson. With the House returning to session on Friday, the stakes remain high for Johnson as he works to unify a fractured GOP and secure the speakership.
“MAGA Outraged as Donald Trump Sparks Backlash Over Shift on Jimmy Carter!”
Many MAGA supporters expressed frustration over President-elect Donald Trump’s eulogy for former President Jimmy Carter, shared on Truth Social following Carter’s death on Sunday.
Trump’s tribute to Carter, a Democrat and the longest-living president in U.S. history, sparked backlash among some of his staunchest supporters. Critics accused Trump of softening his stance toward a figure long associated with opposing political values.
Carter passed away peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 100. Hours later, Trump posted on Truth Social:
“Those of us who have been fortunate to have served as President understand this is a very exclusive club, and only we can relate to the enormous responsibility of leading the Greatest Nation in History.”
The statement, seen by some as conciliatory, left many MAGA supporters questioning Trump’s intentions.
Newsweek reached out to Trump’s transition team and close allies for comment but has yet to receive a response.