Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
US President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as he meets with House Republicans on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, on 13 November 2024.
Brian Snyder | Reuters
president-elect donald trump I called my colleague again republicans select Rep. Mike Johnson as House Speaker House of Representatives Friday the 119th Congress ready to log in.
Trump’s support on social media came as Johnson, whose current tenure as spokesman expired at 11 a.m. ET, faces a potentially very close vote in the House, where the GOP has an ultra-thin majority.
If every one of the 434 House members shows up for the vote, Johnson will need nearly every Republican to vote for him to become president.
“Good luck today to President Mike Johnson, a fine man of great ability, who is very close to having 100% support,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
“A victory for Mike today will be a huge victory for the Republican Party and yet another recognition of our most consequential presidential election in 129 years!! ” Trump wrote. “A GREAT STATEMENT, REALLY. MAGIC!”
Johnson, who represents a Louisiana district, needs a majority of House members present for Friday’s vote to become president of the 119th Congress. Voting will begin before 1 pm ET.
Republicans have 219 seats in the new Congress. Democrats, who will nominate Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York for president, have 215 seats.
That close split means that if all members of the House are present and all Democrats vote for Jeffries, Johnson will need a minimum of 218 Republican votes to be elected president.
If two or more Republicans decide to vote for someone else, Johnson’s overall support would fall below 218 and he would not be elected president on that vote.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky has already said he does not plan to support Johnson, so he will not leave any leeway if Massie keeps his promise.
Johnson was first elected president on October 25, 2023, three weeks after then-Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted from that seat when a handful of Republican members joined all Democrats in voting to impeach him.
Johnson was the fourth candidate considered to replace McCarthy.
McCarthy had only been president for nine months when he was removed; He was first elected president in January 2023, after four days of voting and 15 ballots.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
