Trump backs House Speaker Johnson for new term
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has announced his support for the current Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, to be re-elected for the new term.
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Donald Trump expressed his support for Johnson to continue in his role via his Truth Social account.
Stating that the American people "need to get rid of all the destructive policies" of the Joe Biden administration immediately, Trump said, "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 full support."
Trump also addressed Republicans in the House of Representatives, noting that they should not miss this opportunity and calling on them to support Johnson.
HE THANKED HIM VIA HIS X ACCOUNT
In a post on his X account, Johnson thanked Trump for his support, stating, "Together, we will quickly implement your 'America First' agenda and usher in a new golden age for America. The American people are demanding that we not waste time, and they deserve it. Let's get to work."
During budget negotiations in Congress with the Biden administration this month, Johnson faced criticism from some Republicans, particularly over allegations that he made concessions regarding military aid to Ukraine.
Republicans hold the majority in the 435-seat House of Representatives with 219 members. In the new term House speaker elections expected to be held next week, the new speaker must receive at least 218 votes to be elected.
After Republicans took control of the House of Representatives following the 2022 midterm elections in the U.S., they held 15 rounds of voting over 4 days to elect House Speaker candidate Kevin McCarthy in the January 2023 House speaker elections, an unprecedented event in the country's history.
McCarthy was able to be elected Speaker of the House after 15 rounds of voting, but less than a year later, after his support among Republicans waned, he was removed from his post in a vote held in the House of Representatives on October 3, 2023, becoming the "first speaker of the House in U.S. history to be removed from his seat by the votes of members of his own party."
Following McCarthy's removal, Mike Johnson, the Republican representative from Louisiana, was elected speaker in the 4th round of voting on October 25, 2023.