WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump on Monday, it was supported by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnsonproviding key support for the Louisiana Republican as he prepares for another controversial speaker’s race this week.
Trump, in a post on his social media site, said that Johnson “is a good, hard-working and religious man” and assured that he “will do the right thing and we will continue to WIN.”
“Mike has my complete and total support,” he wrote.
Johnson thanked Trump for his support and added: “The American people demand and deserve that we not waste our time. Let’s get to work!”
Trump’s signal of support comes despite his frustration with a spending deal that Johnson pushed through the House just days before Christmas that fell compact of his main goal of raising debt limit.
But other Republicans were less understanding. Far-right criticism of the spending situation has once again put Johnson’s continued leadership of the upcoming GOP majority in jeopardy. Although a deal was reached to avert a Christmas break, Johnson had to rely on Democrats to keep the government going, underscoring the limits of his influence and exposing cracks in his party’s support.
The speaker’s first two financial plans fell apart when Trump, who won’t take the oath of office until Jan. 20, interjected with calls to suspend or raise the national debt ceiling.
Johnson, who has worked difficult over the past few months to stay close to Trump, has convinced the president-elect that he will meet his demands to raise the debt limit in 2025.
Trump remained still on Johnson’s fate for more than a week before the Jan. 3 leadership vote, even as some Republicans signaled they might not support Johnson in the role.
Libertine. Victoria Spartakone of the opposing Republicans Kevin McCarthy in a statement on Monday, he said that “our next speaker must demonstrate bold leadership to get our country back on track.”
The Indiana state legislator then made a series of demands for the next GOP majority leader that included major spending reform. Rep. Andy Harris, chairman of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, also indicated that Johnson’s future as speaker was not guaranteed before the summer.
In a December 20 post on X, Harris said that since Trump’s November election victory, Republicans have not done enough to reduce “spending, deficits and inflation.”
For this reason, Harris wrote, “I am undecided at this time what House leadership should look like in the 119th Congress.”
