President-elect Donald Trump threw his support behind Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday, sparking a fight over the House gavel that will culminate in a vote later this week.
“Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hardworking, religious man,” Trump stated at the end of a lengthy social media post. “He will do the right thing, and we will continue to win. Mike has my complete and total endorsement.”
Later Monday, Trump ally Elon Musk, who will lead the president-elect’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” endorsed Johnson as well, writing on X, “I feel the same way!” “You have my full support,” Musk wrote in response to Johnson’s post thanking Trump for his support.
In his post, Trump also boasted about his successful 2024 White House bid, praising Republicans for running a “legendary” campaign while criticizing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
He urged Republicans to “not blow” an opportunity for “relief” from the outgoing administration, calling on them to support Johnson.
Johnson, who received criticism from members of his own party for his leadership during the recent government shutdown, thanked Trump for his endorsement.
“I’m honored and humbled by your support, as always,” Johnson wrote on X. “Together, we will quickly deliver on your America First agenda and usher in a new golden age for America. The American people demand and deserve that we don’t waste time. Let us get to work.
However, at least one of Johnson’s detractors was unaffected by the president-elect’s announcement.
“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,” Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., wrote on X. “We’ve seen Johnson partner with the democrats to send money to Ukraine, authorize spying on Americans, and blow the budget.”
Massie previously told ABC News that he would not vote for Johnson as speaker.
Indiana Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz said she wants “assurances” that Johnson can carry out Trump’s agenda before she supports him.
“President Trump will be able to save America only if we have a speaker with courage, vision and a plan – also public commitment to the American people how he will help deliver President Trump’s agenda to drain the swamp,” Spartz wrote on X following the president’s endorsement.
She previously told Fox News that if Johnson is unwilling to deliver on the president-elect’s agenda, he is not worthy of being elected speaker again.
“If he wants to be a speaker, he needs to commit publicly how he’s going to be fulfilling his constitutional duties,” Spartz stated while appearing on “Fox & Friends,” clarifying, “I’m not asking him to go beyond what he has to do by Constitution.”
Spartz also stated that some of her Republican colleagues are interested in the speaker’s gavel, but she declined to reveal which members because they would not publicly oppose Johnson.
