Some Republican allies of House Speaker Mike Johnson are urging President-elect Donald Trump to publicly reaffirm support for him to avoid a lengthy battle to replace him that could delay the certification of Trump’s election victory in January.
Newsweek has contacted spokespeople for Trump and Johnson for comment via email outside usual business hours.
The first vote of the new House, when lawmakers are sworn in on January 3, is on electing a speaker.
Then, on January 6, the House will meet to certify the results of the 2024 election.
Republicans elected Johnson as House Speaker in October 2023 after they were unable to agree on a replacement for three weeks after ousting the last speaker, Kevin McCarthy.
But Johnson is now facing a rebellion from House Republicans over his handling of government funding. The GOP’s slim majority in the lower chamber means Johnson can afford few defections if he wants to keep his hold on the gavel.