Louisiana Republican Congressman Mike Johnson says President-elect Donald Trump’s endorsement of him for House Speaker was supposed to come on New Year’s Day, but Johnson told News Radio 710 KEEL in Shreveport he would like the endorsement to come earlier.
“I’m going to be with him (Trump) at Mar-a-Lago on New Year’s Day. We’re going to map out some strategy, and he wanted to take photos and do a big endorsement on that day. I called him yesterday and said, ‘Mr. President, let’s go ahead and do that,’ (chuckles), so he did,” Johnson said.
In a social media post, Trump said Speaker Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man who will do the right thing. Because the GOP has a razor thin majority in the House, Johnson’s re-election as House Speaker is not a guarantee. Louisiana’s Fourth District Congressman says Trump’s complete and total endorsement will certainly help in his re-election chances.
“We need a Speaker right now who’s not only a proven fighter, which I am, and a trusted lifelong conservative, which I am, but somebody who can also work with every single member of this very diverse House GOP, because we’ve gotta get Trump’s priorities over the line,” Johnson said.
A new Congress will be sworn in on Friday and that’s when the U-S House will vote on Speaker. A serious challenger to Johnson has not emerged.
“There’s no other alternative for Speaker of the House, guys. There’s not another name circulated, there’s no other candidate proposed, because everyone knows that I’m the only one who can get the votes,” Johnson explained.
The Republican from Bossier Parish has been House Speaker since October 2023. Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie has already said he will not vote for Johnson, so Johnson cannot afford to lose anymore Republican votes.
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