Mike Johnson secures re-elected as Speaker with Trump’s support

Republican Mike Johnson narrowly secured re-election as House Speaker on the first ballot, overcoming resistance from hard-right GOP members and buoyed by President-elect Donald Trump’s endorsement.

The vote, which concluded with a tense 218-215 result, exposed deep fractures within the Republican Party, signaling challenges ahead for Johnson as he leads a GOP-controlled Congress with Trump returning to the White House.

In the chamber, a small group of hardline Republicans initially refused to support Johnson, either abstaining or casting votes for alternative candidates. Tensions escalated until Trump personally intervened, reportedly calling a dissenting lawmaker from the golf course to secure the final votes needed.

Taking the gavel, Johnson struck a determined tone: “We’re going to drastically cut back the size and scope of government.” However, his slim margin of victory underscored the precarious hold he has on power and the potential obstacles to advancing Trump’s ambitious agenda, which includes tax cuts and mass deportations.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, addressing the divided chamber, called for unity and bipartisanship: “It’s time to put party politics aside to get things done for Americans.”

The high-stakes vote turned what is traditionally a ceremonial day into a contentious battle. Vice President Kamala Harris was on hand to swear in senators, while the House remained deadlocked until Johnson’s narrow win. In the Senate, Republican majority leader John Thune vowed to uphold the legislative filibuster, while Democratic minority leader Chuck Schumer pledged to push forward progressive priorities.

Trump, celebrating Johnson’s victory, took to social media to praise him: “Mike will be a Great Speaker, and our Country will be the beneficiary.”

The tense vote evoked memories of the prolonged 2023 battle to elect Kevin McCarthy as Speaker, a chaotic process that took 15 rounds of voting over nearly a week. Johnson’s close call suggests further turbulence for the new Congress as it embarks on its legislative agenda.