WASHINGTON (CNN) — President-elect Donald Trump on Monday said he has the “full” and “total” support of House Speaker Mike Johnson, the top House Republican ahead of a critical vote this week. It was a big boost for him.
Mr Trump’s endorsement comes as some House conservatives have warned they will not support Mr Johnson in the speaker’s race. The president-elect’s support could help Mr. Johnson secure the votes he needs, especially as he weathers a messy government funding battle that drew the ire of some right-wing lawmakers earlier this month. Especially after that.
But Mr. Johnson faces an unusually close margin of victory, with little margin for error as he only needs to lose one Republican vote to win the gavel.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky said earlier this month that he would not support Johnson in the speaker race. Separately, CNN tallied members who had not yet endorsed Trump and found that nearly a dozen others had not yet endorsed Johnson.
Mr Johnson will face a vote in the full House of Commons when the new parliament convenes on Friday.
President Trump praised Johnson on Monday, saying he is “hard-working” and “will do the right thing.”
“The American people need immediate relief from all the destructive policies of the previous administration. Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard-working, and godly man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to win. Mike has my full and complete support MAGA!!!,” President Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
After Mr. Johnson cut a deal with Democrats over spending in mid-December, Mr. Trump made a last-minute push to raise the debt ceiling, leaving Mr. Johnson to seek a Plan B. The revised Republican version ultimately failed to garner enough Republican votes to pass, causing an uproar. Between Johnson’s right flanks, he complained that the speaker was not up to the job. There were also questions about whether Mr. Trump would stick with Mr. Johnson ahead of the race for chairman.
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