President-elect Donald Trump has delivered a forceful endorsement of House Speaker Mike Johnson just days before a crucial House vote that will determine Johnson’s political future.
The Washington Post writes:
In a lengthy post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump argued that Republicans should “NOT BLOW THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY WHICH WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN” by voters to immediately govern, which would require Johnson (R-Louisiana) to be swiftly reelected as House speaker to wield the gavel on Friday.
“Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement,” Trump wrote.
Trump’s endorsement comes at a critical juncture for Johnson, who faces mounting pressure from divisions within his own party. Dissatisfaction over Johnson’s management of key legislative priorities, including the government funding package, has sparked questions about whether he can rally enough Republican support to remain in power.
Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, has openly declared he will not back Johnson in the upcoming vote. Meanwhile, several hardline conservatives have yet to commit their support, raising further uncertainty about Johnson’s ability to secure the narrow majority required in the closely divided House.
With Republicans holding only a slim majority, Johnson cannot afford to lose more than one GOP vote if all members are present and voting strictly along party lines.
Trump’s endorsement was part of a broader social media post where he criticized Democrats and accused them of using federal agencies against him. “BUT IT DIDN’T WORK, IT WAS A DISASTER!!! LET’S NOT BLOW THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY WHICH WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN. The American people need IMMEDIATE relief from all of the destructive policies of the last Administration,” Trump wrote.
The significance of Trump’s support cannot be overstated. Many Republican lawmakers have indicated that the former president’s opinion will heavily influence their stance in the upcoming vote. Rep. Tim Burchett, from Tennessee, acknowledged Trump’s influence, saying, “It’s going to be more up to Trump than anybody else. He’s going to weigh in on it, I’m sure.”
