Trump Supports Mike Johnson for House Speaker Amid Party Disagreements

With only a few weeks until he becomes president, Donald Trump has shown his support for Mike Johnson (R-LA) to continue as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. This support comes at a time when Johnson is facing difficulties within his own party.

On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump praised Johnson on Monday, saying, “He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement.”

Johnson thanked Trump, saying, “Thank you, President Trump! As always, I’m honored and humbled by your support.” He also stated, “Together, we will quickly deliver on your America First agenda and usher in the new golden age of America. The American people demand and deserve that we waste no time. Let’s get to work!”

Johnson’s endorsement is important as he deals with challenges to his leadership. A key vote is coming up on Friday, Jan. 3. Johnson can only lose two votes from Republicans because they only have a slight majority in the House.

I understand why President Trump is endorsing Speaker Johnson as he did Speaker Ryan, which is definitely important. However, we still need to get assurances that @SpeakerJohnson won’t sell us out to the swamp.

Donald Trump endorses Paul Ryan, John McCain https://t.co/Xa0tcTKpWk

— Rep. Victoria Spartz (@RepSpartz) December 30, 2024

Democrats are expected to vote against Johnson. He also faces resistance from some Republicans. Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie has said earlier this month that he would not vote for Johnson, according to The Hill.

Trump’s support could help Johnson overcome these challenges. “With tight margins and many unpredictable members, nothing is a lock. But Speaker Johnson is in an exceptionally strong position,” said South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson, as reported by Politico.

Why Some Oppose Johnson’s Leadership

Some House Republicans question Johnson’s ability to lead. This came after a deal to keep the government running was stopped by Elon Musk, who Trump appointed to advise him on government spending. The deal was meant to prevent a government shutdown, reported The Guardian.

The disagreement centered around Trump wanting to raise the federal debt ceiling, but 38 House Republicans voted against the revised bill, leading to a last-minute agreement without the changes Trump wanted.

Indiana Congresswoman Victoria Spartz also has doubts about Johnson. She told The Hill that she wants the next speaker to openly promise to be very careful with government spending. With these internal challenges, Johnson’s leadership journey is looking to be complex but crucial.