What’s Happening:
Work in Congress was put on hold for almost three weeks as Republicans bickered and bantered about who should be the next House Speaker. GOP members rallied behind several candidates only to see them drop out before ever facing a vote or not being able to secure a majority vote.
Republicans were in such disarray that yesterday they announced that Majority Whip Tom Emmer (MN) would be their choice for speaker. Within hours he withdrew from the race without an announcement. Republicans scrambled once a gain late Tuesday to rally behind a candidate.
Republicans finally got their act together with the selection of the final candidate who won the speaker’s gavel on Wednesday. Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson is the new Speaker of the House.
And guess who placed the full weight of his influence behind the new speaker? With just a few words, former President Donald Trump pushed House Republicans to rally behind Johnson going forward.
From the Daily Caller:
“Get it done, fast!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Congratulations to Congressional Republicans! In 2024, we will have an even bigger, & more important, win!”
Johnson is the fourth House Republican to secure the party’s nomination over the last several weeks. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan failed to gain enough support to secure the gavel. After Emmer withdrew on Tuesday, Johnson was in a still crowded field of candidates.
Trump avoided an official endorsement of any of the candidates. But prior to the House floor vote for Johnson, Trump wrote on Truth Social that his “strong SUGGESTION” is to back Johnson for speaker. Trump stated that all the candidates still in play before Johnson’s win were “beyond reproach, and represent the absolute best there is in the Republican Party.”
Trump may not have put forth an official endorsement, but it could be argued that he had input into Emmer not gaining enough support to win the gavel. Trump criticized Emmer as a Republican-In-Name-Only (RINO) before the majority whip withdrew.
Johnson seemed to come out of nowhere to attain the speaker’s seat. He was one of nine members still in the race as of Tuesday. He is a four-term congressman. In the final secret ballot to nominate him, he secured more votes than Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida, Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, Mark Green of Tennessee and Roger Williams of Texas.
UPDATE: Rep. Mike Johnson has been voted in as the next House Speaker.
Key Takeaways:
- Republicans rally behind new speaker after weeks of chaos.
- Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson is the new Speaker of the House.
- Trump urges Republicans to take action with four simple words.
Source: Daily Caller
