President-elect Trump offered his complete and total endorsement of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Monday, days before a House vote on Friday to elect a new Speaker.
“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 wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Trump’s public endorsement could be a key to a win by Johnson, who can only afford a handful of GOP defectiosn and be elected Speaker.
Anger from GOP members about how Johnson has handled various issues, including the end-of-year funding package to keep the government open, has thrown Johnson’s Speakership into question.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has said he will not support Johnson, and several other hardline conservatives will not commit to supporting him.
Because of the razor-thin House GOP majority, Johnson cannot afford to lose more than one Republican vote for Speaker, assuming every member is present and votes for a candidate.