Drama is on the horizon for Trump and his allies. They have to rethink strategy.
Because the U.S. House just turned on Trump and caused a political bomb to go off in Washington, D.C.
A huge dramatic fight is on its way to Congress. The U.S. House of Representatives will have to decide on who its next Speaker of the House will be, with Republicans being in the driver’s seat since they have a majority in the chamber. Though, that majority is exceedingly close, meaning Republicans don’t have much room for infighting and GOP holdouts. Unfortunately, that fight doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a quick and easy one at this time.
Rep. Chip Roy Says Speaker Mike Johnson Lacks Votes to Retain Gavel Despite Trump’s Endorsement
Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy has voiced concerns about Speaker Mike Johnson’s ability to retain his position as Speaker of the House, even after receiving a high-profile endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Roy, speaking on Fox Business on Tuesday morning, suggested that Johnson may not have the necessary support from the House Republican conference to continue serving in the role when the House votes on a new speaker this Friday.
“I remain undecided, as do a number of my colleagues, because we saw so many of the failures last year that we are concerned about that might limit or inhibit our ability to advance the President’s agenda,” Roy told Fox Business’ Ashley Webster. “Right now, I don’t believe that he has the votes on Friday, and I think we need to have the conference get together so that we can get united.”
The remarks come ahead of a crucial vote set for this Friday, which will determine who holds the speaker’s gavel in the new Congress. With the Republican majority in the House operating with a slim margin, Johnson can afford to lose only one GOP vote — assuming all members are present and voting. The stakes are high, and Roy’s comments add to the growing tension surrounding Johnson’s speakership.
Roy’s doubts about Johnson’s support follow a strong endorsement from Trump on Monday. The former president took to Truth Social to publicly back Johnson, describing him as “a good, hard-working, religious man” who would “do the right thing.” Trump continued, urging Republicans to back Johnson, stating: “Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement. MAGA!!!”
Despite Trump’s backing, some House Republicans remain unconvinced about Johnson’s leadership. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a vocal critic of Johnson, committed to voting against his speakership bid back on December 18. Massie has been the only Republican to publicly oppose Johnson, but other prominent members, including Reps. Victoria Spartz of Indiana and Andy Harris of Maryland, have also expressed reservations about the speaker-designate. Harris is the leader of the influential House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative Republicans who hold significant sway within the party.
Roy acknowledged the concerns raised by his colleagues, including Massie and Spartz, who have been critical of Johnson’s past actions and voting record. “Victoria is a good friend, and Thomas is a good friend, and they raise reasonable concerns,” Roy said in his interview. He pointed to what he sees as failures during the past year, particularly in fiscal policy. “We racked up $300 billion additional deficit spending after the election. We spent $1.7 trillion last year with more Democrat votes than Republican votes. We gave another $61 billion to Ukraine.”
I respect and support President Trump, but his endorsement of Mike Johnson is going to work out about as well as his endorsement of Speaker Paul Ryan. We’ve seen Johnson partner with the democrats to send money to Ukraine, authorize spying on Americans, and blow the budget. pic.twitter.com/6Y7GAkcBzJ
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 30, 2024
Roy’s critique highlights the ongoing tension within the Republican Party over fiscal policy and foreign aid, particularly in relation to Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia. Many Republicans are frustrated with what they perceive as unchecked spending and the failure to curb the influence of the Biden administration’s policies.
In the face of uncertainty surrounding Johnson’s future as speaker, Roy suggested alternative candidates who could potentially unite the party and take on the role of Speaker. He mentioned Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida and Jim Jordan of Ohio as potential contenders who could garner more support within the conference if Johnson were to step down. Jordan, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, is a well-known conservative figure who has the backing of many in the GOP’s right wing.
The Speaker’s race has already been marked by deep divisions within the Republican Party. With a narrow majority in the House, Republicans are grappling with competing factions, each pushing their own vision for the future of the party and the country. The party’s slim margins mean that any internal fractures could lead to a chaotic and unpredictable outcome in the leadership vote on Friday.
Johnson, a relatively new figure in the Republican leadership, was initially selected to replace former Speaker Kevin McCarthy after McCarthy was ousted in a historic vote in October. While Johnson’s selection was seen by some as a unifying choice, his leadership is now being tested by the same divisions that plagued McCarthy’s tenure. As the vote approaches, it remains to be seen whether Johnson will be able to secure the necessary votes from his own party, or whether Republicans will look to other leadership figures to steer the House forward.
For now, all eyes will be on the House vote this Friday, as Johnson’s fate — and potentially the future direction of the Republican Party — hangs in the balance.
The Conservative Column will bring you any breaking news about the upcoming U.S. House Speaker voting process.
