US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday congratulated Republican Mike Johnson on being re-elected as house speaker. Trump said Johnson will be a “great speaker” and that America will be the beneficiary.
Trump congratulated Johnson for “receiving an unprecedented vote of confidence in Congress” in a post on his ‘Truth Social’ platform, adding that Americans have waited four years for common sense, strength, and leadership, which they will now get.
“Congratulations to Speaker Mike Johnson for receiving an unprecedented Vote of Confidence in Congress. Mike will be a Great Speaker, and our Country will be the beneficiary. The People of America have waited four years for Common Sense, Strength, and Leadership. They’ll get it now, and America will be greater than ever before!” the president-elect said in his post.
Earlier, Trump had said that Johnson’s re-election as House Speaker would be a “big win for the Republican Party.”
“Good luck today for Speaker Mike Johnson, a fine man of great ability, who is very close to having 100% support. A win for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party, and yet another acknowledgment of our 129-year most consequential Presidential Election!! – A BIG AFFIRMATION, INDEED. MAGA!” Trump said in a Truth Social post on Friday.
Mike Johnson re-elected as house speaker
Mike Johnson secured the House speakership on Friday as the 119th Congress convened, overcoming initial resistance from within his own party. Johnson failed to reach the required 218 votes in the first round. Two Republican representatives, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Keith Self of Texas, subsequently changed their votes, allowing Johnson to win in the second round.
Trump reportedly spoke with Norman and Self before they switched their votes, according to Punchbowl News. With 434 members present, Johnson needed 218 votes to win. Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky cast the sole dissenting vote.
Johnson faced opposition from some Republicans and worked to secure their support before the vote. A failure to elect a speaker could have potentially disrupted the scheduled congressional certification of Trump’s 2024 election win on Monday.
“We don’t have time for drama,” Johnson commented upon arriving at the Capitol.
