President-elect Donald Trump may have endorsed House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Monday, but some Republicans aren't ready to fall in line. While Rep. Thomas Massie has come out strongly against Johnson, other House Republicans are undecided, meaning Johnson may have a difficult time maintaining his position.
Johnson's role is up for a vote after the new House is worn in on Friday. Republicans are expected to hold a slim, 219-215 majority, with one vacancy. Democrats are expected to back House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.) in a united front. As such, it's likely that Johnson can only afford to lose one vote from Republicans.
The situation suggests there could be more embarrassing disarray among House Republicans just as Trump gets ready to take back power. Johnson, of course, only became speaker last year because a handful of Republicans decided to oust Kevin McCarthy — and Democrats joined them.
While the House Republican caucus unanimously backed Johnson as their leader last month, he has faced friendly fire in recent weeks from Trump, GOP megadonor Elon Musk, and the right-flank of the party for originally putting forward a large temporary government funding bill that had been negotiated with Democrats.
In a rambling Truth Social post that covered everything from Beyoncé to the FBI, Trump threw his support behind Johnson as speaker “Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man,” Trump wrote. “He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement. MAGA!!!”
“LETS NOT BLOW THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY WHICH WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN,” he added. “The American people need IMMEDIATE relief from all of the destructive policies of the last Administration.”
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has been the most vocal critic of Johnson in the House Republican caucus. “I respect and support President Trump, but his endorsement of Mike Johnson is going to work out about as well as his endorsement of Speaker Paul Ryan,” he said in a post on X on Monday. “We've seen Johnson partner with the democrats to send money to Ukraine, authorize spying on Americans, and blow the budget.”
Massie even seemingly called Johnson a potato, like President Joe Biden: “For months Democrats ignored the fact that Joe Biden was a potato. They convinced themselves that keeping him around was the pragmatic way to win the day. Too late did they admit the emperor had no clothes. Republicans are doing the same thing by keeping Speaker Mike Johnson,” he posted.
Johnson's journey to a second term as speaker could be “a short-term hostage taking” situation, a House Republican told Axios anonymously. “Not sure if they deny the first vote or he will be forced to negotiate prior. I think there are 4-8 ready to hold out at least until the vote,” they said.
“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,” Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) posted on
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) told Fox News he is holding out on making a decision: “I haven't publicly or privately committed yet. I do want to speak with the speaker just to see what his plans are, because I think there are some issues that need to be worked out, specifically dealing with the budget issues.”
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) and House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris (R-Md.) are both undecided, Axios reported.
Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) said on Fox Business that he is going to “keep his options open.”
Some lawyers are unhappy with the way things are shaping up. “To oppose Johnson now weakens the GOP and strengthens Hakeem Jeffries. It also puts at risk the Electoral College Certification scheduled for 6 Jan. These guys serve as a 'fifth column' for the Dems,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) told CNN.
