Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy expressed skepticism on Tuesday regarding Speaker Mike Johnson’s ability to secure the votes needed to retain his leadership position despite an endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump.
In an interview with Fox Business’ Ashley Webster, Roy stated, “I remain undecided, as do a number of my colleagues because we saw so many of the failures last year that we are concerned about that might limit or inhibit our ability to advance the President’s agenda. Right now, I don’t believe that he has the votes on Friday, and I think we need to have the conference get together so that we can get united.”
READ: US House Speaker Mike Johnson Faces Tight Jan. 3 Speaker Election, Despite Trump Endorsement
The House is scheduled to vote for its next Speaker on Friday. With a narrow Republican majority, Johnson can afford to lose only one GOP vote, assuming all representatives are present.
Roy’s remarks come after Trump endorsed Johnson in a Truth Social post on Monday, writing, “The American people need IMMEDIATE relief from all of the destructive policies of the last Administration. Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hardworking, religious man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement. MAGA!!!”
Despite Trump’s endorsement, Johnson faces resistance within the Republican ranks. Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie has publicly opposed Johnson’s bid, citing concerns over recent fiscal policies.
Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz and Maryland Rep. Andy Harris, leader of the House Freedom Caucus, have also remained noncommittal about supporting Johnson.
READ: Former Florida Rep. Gaetz Says Trump’s Backing Of Speaker Johnson Is “The Art Of The Deal”
Roy emphasized the legitimacy of their concerns, saying, “Victoria is a good friend, and Thomas is a good friend, and they raise reasonable concerns. We racked up $300 billion additional deficit spending after the election. We spent $1.7 trillion last year with more Democrat votes than Republican votes. We gave another $61 billion to Ukraine.”
Roy floated the names of Florida Rep. Byron Donalds and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, as potential alternatives to Johnson if he withdraws from the race.
The Friday vote will determine whether Johnson can unite the Republican conference and retain the Speaker’s gavel. With internal divisions and a slim majority, GOP leaders face mounting pressure to rally support and present a cohesive front.
The outcome will shape the party’s ability to navigate legislative
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.