Johnson’s Speakership Under Threat as GOP Doubts and Criticism Emerge Despite Trump Endorsement – One America News Network
OAN Staff Blake Wolf
4:21 PM – Wednesday, January 2, 2025
House Speaker Mike Johnson of the GOP is receiving backing from certain House Republicans after President-elect Donald Trump’s endorsement, while others remain uncertain or are pushing for a new “loyal” speaker ahead of the upcoming vote on January 3rd.
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With Republicans holding a narrow majority in Congress, Johnson’s (R-La.) chance for reelection is extremely precarious as he can only permit two Republican dissenters to vote against him for him to secure victory.
Last month, Johnson’s leadership was put to the test when he presented a government spending bill criticized by opponents as rife with “wasteful spending and pork,” prompting multiple Republicans to reject his continuing resolution (CR) that he worked on in conjunction with the Democrats.
Elon Musk, a Trump ally and co-leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded the criticism against Johnson’s nearly 1,550-page bill, which was portrayed as a disaster relief fund. Musk labeled the bill “criminal,” highlighting its wasteful expenditures that included raises for congress members and new football stadiums.
“Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!” Musk asserted in defiance of Johnson.
In the wake of its unveiling, numerous GOP lawmakers sided with Musk’s viewpoint on the extensive spending bill, effectively nullifying it and substituting it with a significantly smaller spending plan.
Efforts to cut down on the “bloated, wasteful” expenditure and federal bureaucracy have become a pivotal aspect of Trump’s reelection strategies, appointing Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to co-lead DOGE.
DOGE aims to unveil and eliminate inefficiencies within the federal government.
“I’m disappointed,” said Missouri Republican Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) when asked about Johnson’s tenure. “I believe he is capable of performing better. He could improve his communication. The fact that we haven’t seen the language today and we’re supposed to vote on it this week is simply unacceptable.” Burlison referred to the limited time many lawmakers had to review the new CR bill.
“We’re just fundamentally unserious about spending. With a blank check, you can’t reduce the size of the government. If you can’t reduce it, you can’t enjoy freedom,” remarked Texas Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas).
Recently, Trump issued a “Complete & Total Endorsement” for Johnson, asserting that he would enable Congress to implement his MAGA “America First” agenda.
“My friend [Johnson] has made remarkable contributions in the House, and I’m pleased to see him at the helm as Congress looks ahead to amplifying our economy and ensuring the safety of our communities in the new year,” stated Senator John Kennedy (R-La.).
Shortly after, other GOP officials added their insights on the matter.
“I concur with President Trump that [Johnson] is the right person to lead. He’s a devoted conservative and a man of integrity,” noted Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.).
Nonetheless, Johnson’s position as speaker remains uncertain, as some Republican House members persist in their skepticism towards his leadership. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is one outspoken critic, claiming “Johnson is not ready for this role.”
“The ‘vote for Mike’ faction is not making a convincing case that Mike Johnson possesses the necessary traits to lead our conference,” Massie stated in an X post.
“Even if Mike’s sole ambition is to fulfill Trump’s wishes without debate or question (which I would argue is detrimental to the Congress institution), he will struggle. He has already shown that he won’t inform the President what is feasible in the House and he lacks the situational awareness to grasp what can and cannot pass,” he continued.
“While I respect and support President Trump, his endorsement of Mike Johnson is likely to yield results similar to his backing of Speaker Paul Ryan,” Massie remarked. “We’ve observed Johnson collaborating with the Democrats to fund Ukraine, authorize surveillance on Americans, and overspend.”
Moreover, other House Republicans have entertained the notion of replacing Johnson, including Kentucky Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), and Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) among others.
In anticipation of the vote, Johnson met with some of his critics, cautioning that any delay regarding the House Speaker voting session could postpone the certification of Trump’s election victory, as the House cannot conduct any business without a chosen speaker.
“We will get this accomplished. The topics we are addressing this morning indicate we are in very serious times. We cannot afford any internal conflicts. We must get Congress operating, which commences tomorrow, and we need to get to work immediately,” Johnson asserted.
“We have to certify the election of President Donald J Trump
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