US House Speaker Mike Johnson clinches Donald Trump’s endorsement

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Donald Trump has endorsed Mike Johnson for House Speaker, giving the embattled lawmaker a strong boost amid Republican infighting ahead of Friday’s vote.

The president-elect said on Monday Johnson had his “complete and total endorsement,” calling him a “good, hard-working, religious man” who would “do the right thing” in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.

Liked by: Trump It’s a watershed moment for Johnson as Republicans prepare to vote Jan. 3 on who leads the lower house of Congress.

Johnson’s fate has been wavering after some lawmakers spoke out against him, including Kentucky’s Thomas Mass. Maryland’s Andy Harris, who heads the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus, and Pennsylvania’s Scott Perry have also wavered in their support.

Republicans’ narrow majority of 220 seats, compared to 215 seats controlled by Democrats, will shrink to 219 when the new Congress convenes due to the resignation of Matt Gaetz. the position of prosecutor, but later refused to consider the position.

The slim Republican majority means Johnson can probably only afford to lose one vote if he wants to keep his leadership post.

It’s not the first time Republicans have split in recent weeks over a deal to avert a government shutdown, highlighting the tough balancing act Johnson must navigate if re-elected. The fight also cast doubt on whether Johnson had enough support to pressure the leadership of the House of Representatives again.

Johnson’s first attempt at a bipartisan bill to keep the government funded was scuttled by Trump and his allies, who criticized it for billions of dollars in additional spending and other unrelated measures. government funding, after 38 Republicans voted against the Democrats just before the deadline, but without the debt ceiling provision that Trump originally demanded.

Trump on Monday urged Republicans “not to blow this great opportunity, citing an election victory that not only returned Trump to a second term in the White House, but also gave Republicans control of both houses of Congress.”

Speaking to ABC News on Sunday, New York Rep. Mike Lawler said firing Mike Johnson would be “foolish.”

“The fact is that these people are playing with fire,” he said. “And if they think they’re somehow going to have a more conservative speaker, they’re kidding themselves.”

Johnson said in a post on X that he was “honored and humbled” by Trump’s support. “Together, we will quickly implement your America First agenda and usher in a new golden age for America.”