Former President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Rep. Mike Johnson as the potential next speaker of the House, urging GOP lawmakers to vote for him during the floor vote on Wednesday. Trump praised Johnson as a respected and popular figure who would be a fantastic speaker. The endorsement comes as House Republicans have burned through three previous candidates for the speaker role.
The nomination of Mike Johnson as speaker of the House follows the historic vote to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy from his role as speaker. Rep. Matt Gaetz led a motion to vacate, which was supported by all House Democrats and eight House Republicans. Since then, House Republicans have struggled to find a suitable replacement, with Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Rep. Jim Jordan facing significant opposition.
Former President Trump’s endorsement of Johnson comes as a boost to his chances of securing the position. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, congratulating Johnson and the other candidates for their support during his presidency. While Trump did not formally endorse any candidate, he made a strong suggestion to vote for Johnson, describing him as a talented and loyal supporter.
The House Republican Conference has faced challenges in finding a new speaker, with previous nominees dropping out or failing to secure enough votes. Rep. Mike Johnson is now the fourth nominee chosen by the conference since McCarthy’s removal. The House has been without a speaker for an extended period, with this being the second-longest period in its history.
It remains to be seen whether Rep. Mike Johnson will secure enough votes to become the new speaker of the House. The floor vote on Wednesday will determine his fate, and Republicans will be watching closely to see if Trump’s endorsement has swayed their decision. This development adds another layer of intrigue to the ongoing political landscape in Washington.
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