President-elect Donald Trump has thrown his full support behind U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., amid growing tensions within the Republican Party following the passage of a controversial spending bill. Trump praised Johnson as a “good, hard-working, religious man” and urged his party to unify under Johnson’s leadership as Congress faces a pivotal vote on the speaker’s future.
In a fiery statement posted to his social media platform, Trump lauded his party’s victories in the 2024 election, touting his own landslide win in the presidential race and calling for the GOP to seize the “great opportunity” they have been given.
READ: New York GOP Rep Says Dumping Mike Johnson Would Be ‘Stupid’ As Speaker Election Looms
“We are the Party of COMMON SENSE,” Trump wrote. “Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard-working, religious man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement. MAGA!!!”
Trump’s endorsement follows criticism of Johnson by factions within the GOP over the spending bill passed last week to avert a government shutdown.
The bill, which kept the government funded but did not address the debt ceiling or make significant spending cuts, has drawn fire from hardline conservatives who believe Johnson has not pushed Republican priorities aggressively enough.
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., warned on Sunday that any attempt to oust Johnson would have dire consequences for the party. Speaking on ABC News, Lawler described Johnson as having inherited a challenging situation following the ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in October.
READ: US House Speaker Mike Johnson Faces Battle Amid Congressional Turmoil, Trump’s Return To White House
“The fact is that Mike Johnson inherited a disaster when Matt Gaetz and several of my colleagues teamed up with 208 Democrats to remove Kevin McCarthy, which will go down as the single stupidest thing I’ve ever seen in politics,” Lawler said. “Removing Mike Johnson would equally be as stupid. The fact is that these folks are playing with fire.”
Johnson was selected as speaker after weeks of GOP turmoil, following McCarthy’s removal in a dramatic vote. The Louisiana Republican, a staunch ally of Trump, was seen as a unifying choice for the fractured GOP, though his proposed policies have not satisfied all factions within the party.
The spending bill Johnson shepherded through Congress has become a lightning rod for criticism. Trump himself criticized the bill for including “Democrat handouts” and failing to address the debt ceiling, though he stopped short of withdrawing support for Johnson.
Johnson’s narrow margin in the House means he can only afford to lose one Republican vote when Congress reconvenes to determine its leadership.
READ: Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie Says He Won’t Support Mike Johnson For Speaker
As the Republican Party grapples with internal divisions, Trump’s endorsement of Johnson highlights the precarious balance between appeasing the party’s hardline conservative wing and maintaining functional leadership in Congress.
Johnson, who has aligned himself closely with Trump’s policies, now faces the challenge of navigating these tensions while securing his position as speaker.
Trump’s appeal for unity under Johnson may help solidify the speaker’s standing, but with conservative dissatisfaction still brewing, the party’s ability to govern effectively in the coming months remains uncertain.
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