President-elect Trump known as two of the ultimate Republican holdouts earlier than they switched their votes in assist of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), sources informed The Hill, underscoring the incoming president’s affect within the Home GOP convention.
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), who initially voted for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), and Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas), who initially voted for Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), each confirmed they spoke with Trump on Friday afternoon after withholding their assist from Johnson, a posture that might have left the Louisiana Republican wanting the Speaker’s gavel. Each lawmakers are members of the conservative Home Freedom Caucus.
“TRUMP WAS GREAT !!” Norman informed The Hill in a textual content message.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) additionally known as Trump after Johnson appeared to fall wanting the Speakership and spoke with the holdouts, a supply informed The Hill.
Norman and Self, together with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), had been the one Republicans who withheld assist from Johnson in the course of the first poll of Friday’s Speakership race. Massie, who publicly introduced his opposition to Johnson within the lead-up to the election, voted for Home Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.).
All different Republicans threw their assist behind Johnson, and all Democrats voted for Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), that means these three GOP defections would have been sufficient to maintain Johnson from clinching the gavel.
After the vote, Johnson was seen strolling right into a room off the Home ground together with Norman and Self as the primary poll remained open.
Almost an hour in spite of everything members forged their vote for Speaker, Norman and Self walked into the nicely of the Home chamber and requested the clerk to alter their votes to Johnson, giving the Louisiana Republican the bulk vote he wanted to win the gavel.
In a press release on the social platform X, Self mentioned he modified his vote after receiving assurances from Johnson concerning fiscal accountability.
“My sole focus was advancing the Trump agenda. To ensure this, I expressed concerns to Speaker Johnson about fiscal responsibility and holding the line on deficit spending—key priorities for my constituents,” Self wrote. “After receiving firm assurances from the Speaker, that Republicans in the House will have strong representation during the budget reconciliation process—a cornerstone of President Trump’s agenda—I changed my initial vote.”
“I appreciate Speaker Johnson addressing these critical issues,” he continued. “Let’s get to work!”
Trump congratulated Johnson after he received the gavel, calling his victory “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!” he added.
Trump endorsed Johnson for Speaker earlier this week and re-upped his assist for the Louisiana Republican shortly earlier than Friday’s vote.
Whereas Johnson received the gavel, hassle continues to be looming. A gaggle of 11 hard-line Republicans — together with Norman — penned a letter to GOP lawmakers shortly after Friday’s vote writing that they nonetheless have “sincere reservations” about Johnson.
“Today, we voted for Mike Johnson for Speaker of the House because of our steadfast support of President Trump and to ensure the timely certification of his electors. We did this despite our sincere reservations regarding the Speaker’s track record over the past 15 months,” they wrote.
Emily Brooks and Mike Lillis contributed.
