Trump is set to be inaugurated in just a few weeks. But something strange just happened.
As Trump confused everyone with this blindsiding announcement ahead of his inauguration.
The Donald Trump support base is entirely fed up with the Republicans In Name Only (RINOs) who are so quick to stab the conservative base in the back. It’s a tale as old as time; the idea of Congressional GOP “leadership” cutting a deal with Democrats and D.C. cronies to pass bad bills. Donald Trump was supposed to represent a shift in that status quo.
Most recently, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has been under fire for his poor leadership, particularly when it came to the spending bill fight this month. It was obvious that Mike Johnson just wanted to cut a deal so that he could get the debt ceiling issue off his back. In his mind, the debt ceiling is a can that needed to be kicked down the road and dealt with later, even though conservative Americans are begging Congress to stop the astronomical spending of the federal government.
Surprisingly, though, Donald Trump doesn’t seem too upset with Mike Johnson. In fact, he doesn’t seem upset with him at all. He’s going so far as to suggest that maybe Mike Johnson should even remain as U.S. House Speaker for the Republicans in the new Congress set to be inaugurated in January. That’s a twist no one really saw coming.
Trump Endorses House Speaker Mike Johnson Ahead of Contentious Leadership Vote
President-elect Donald Trump has officially endorsed House Speaker Mike Johnson ahead of a crucial leadership vote expected this week. The endorsement, shared by Trump on his social media platform, marks a significant show of support for the Louisiana Republican, who faces a challenging road to securing the speakership amidst growing opposition within his party.
In his post, Trump praised Johnson as a “good, hard-working, religious man,” and expressed confidence in his ability to lead the House. “He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN,” Trump wrote, signaling his full backing. “Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement,” he added, reinforcing his commitment to Johnson’s leadership bid.
Johnson, who has worked to maintain a close relationship with Trump over the past several months, expressed gratitude for the endorsement. “The American people demand and deserve that we waste no time. Let’s get to work!” he said in response.
The endorsement from Trump comes at a time when Johnson’s leadership is under scrutiny within his own party. His handling of a key spending deal passed just before Christmas has stirred controversy, with far-Right Republicans expressing dissatisfaction. The deal, which averted a government shutdown, relied on Democratic support to pass, drawing sharp criticism from members of the GOP’s more conservative wing.
Despite this, Trump’s endorsement signals continued support for Johnson. However, the president-elect’s backing comes with lingering frustrations over Johnson’s inability to achieve one of Trump’s primary goals — the raising of the debt ceiling, which would allow for increased government spending without further debt accumulation. Trump had previously called for action on the debt ceiling, but Johnson’s efforts on this front fell short.
Johnson’s first two funding plans to address government spending collapsed as Trump intervened, calling for measures to suspend or raise the debt ceiling. Despite these setbacks, Johnson managed to convince Trump that he would meet the president-elect’s demand to raise the debt limit in 2025, buying him some time and trust.
However, Johnson’s standing within the GOP is still far from secure. In the lead-up to the Jan. 3 leadership vote, some Republicans have signaled that they are not ready to back him for another term as speaker. Among these dissenters is Rep. Victoria Spartz, an Indiana lawmaker who was critical of Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s initial bid for the speakership. Spartz issued a statement on Monday, calling for “courageous leadership” to get the country back on track and outlining a series of demands for the next GOP leader, including major reforms to spending policies.
Rep. Andy Harris, chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, also voiced concerns about Johnson’s future. In a December 20 post on X, Harris expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of government spending, deficits, and inflation. He wrote that the GOP had failed to deliver on promises made since Trump’s 2016 victory. As a result, Harris declared himself “undecided” on who should lead the GOP in the 119th Congress, further complicating Johnson’s path to re-election as speaker.
— Rep. Andy Harris, MD (@RepAndyHarrisMD) December 21, 2024
With Trump’s endorsement offering crucial support, Johnson remains locked in a battle for leadership. His ability to unite the fractured GOP and address the mounting concerns over spending and government debt will be key factors in determining whether he retains his position. As the January 3 leadership vote looms, all eyes are on the Louisiana Republican to see if he can rally enough support to maintain his grip on the speakership.
A situation could arise where Mike Johnson is unable to gain enough support from the Republicans in Congress and there is no decision over who will be the next speaker of the House, much like the Kevin McCarthy fiasco from early in 2023.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
