On November 13, 2024, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump shook hands with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) when meeting with Republican members of the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S.
Brian Snyder | Reuters
President-elect Donald Trump Visit compatriots again republican party Select Rep. Mike Johnson as Speaker House of Representatives Friday, No. 119 congress Get ready for a meeting.
Trump’s support on social media comes from Johnson – whose current term speaker The bill is due at 11 a.m. ET — and could face a very tight vote in the House, where Republicans hold a slim majority.
If every one of the 434 House members showed up to vote, Johnson would need nearly all Republicans to vote for him to become speaker.
“Good luck today to Speaker Mike Johnson, a talented and good man who is very close to 100% approval,” Trump wrote in a post on The Truth Society.
“Mike’s victory today would be a major victory for the Republican Party and yet another validation of our most important presidential election in 129 years!!” Trump wrote. “A big yes indeed. MAGA!”
Johnson, who represents a Louisiana district, needs a majority of House members to be present for Friday’s vote to become the 119th Congressional speaker. Voting is scheduled to begin just before 1 p.m. Eastern Time.
The Republican Party has 219 seats in the new Congress. Democrats will nominate New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries as speaker, holding 215 seats.
The narrow division meant that if every House member showed up and voted, Johnson could only lose the support of one Republican but still remain elected speaker.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., has already said he does not plan to support Johnson, leaving him with no leeway if Massie follows through on his promise.
Johnson was first elected speaker on October 25, 2023, and three weeks later, then-Rep. He was ousted from the position when a handful of Republican members joined Democrats in voting to oust California Republican Kevin McCarthy.
Johnson is the fourth nominee being considered to replace McCarthy.
McCarthy himself was sacked after just nine months in the role – after four days of voting and 15 votes, he was first elected speaker in January 2023.
This is developing news. Please check back for updates.
