President-elect Donald Trump has endorsed House Speaker Mike Johnson for re-election, praising him as a hardworking and religious man who will do the right thing. Trump urged his party to stick together heading into the new Congress, which will begin on January 20, when he will start his second term in office. Johnson responded by promising to quickly deliver on Trump’s agenda, focusing on a sweeping reform plan that includes immigration and other priorities.
However, Johnson faces challenges within his own party, with warnings of possible defections in Friday’s vote for speaker. With Republicans holding a slim House majority, Johnson must navigate carefully to retain his position. Some Republicans, including Rep. Thomas Massie, have expressed doubts about Johnson’s leadership, particularly regarding a bipartisan end-of-year spending deal that was criticized by Trump ally Elon Musk.
Despite these challenges, Trump’s endorsement of Johnson may help solidify support within the party and discourage any attempts to oust him as speaker. The President-elect’s endorsement comes after he initially wavered on his support for Johnson following the release of the criticized spending deal. Trump’s backing of Johnson is seen as a way to maintain party unity and ensure a strong leadership in the House as they head into the new year.
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