On Monday, President-elect Donald Trump doubled down on his support for House Speaker Mike Johnson. In a post on Truth Social, he not only celebrated the Republican Party’s “common sense” approach as the key to their historic 2024 election victory, and criticized Democrats for wasting $2.5 billion on a failed campaign, but he also reaffirmed his endorsement of Speaker Mike Johnson, calling him a hardworking and principled leader.
“Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man,” he wrote. “He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement. MAGA!!!”
This is a smart move.
There has been quite a bit of speculation that internal GOP divisions could doom Johnson’s speakership in the wake of the controversy over the continuing resolution to keep the government funded. The original version of the bill was a bloated 1,500 pages, and the second version was approximately a tenth of the size, but that bill failed after 38 Republicans opposed it.
Despite successfully averting a government shutdown before Christmas, Johnson’s handling of the situation has drawn criticism from within the GOP, with some members eager to oust him and replace him with someone else. Notably, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has vowed to oppose him, while others, such as Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and Greg Steube (R-Fla.) have voiced concerns over his leadership.
Related: Trump Makes His Choice for Speaker (And Many People Aren't Going to Like It)
Speculation about potential replacements, including Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), and Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) has intensified, signaling potential turbulence ahead of the speakership vote on January 3. None of those candidates are likely to get universal support from House Republicans, and Democrats are not going to save Johnson either.
Johnson was naturally thrilled to have Trump's endorsement. "Thank you, President Trump! I’m honored and humbled by your support, as always," Johnson said in a post on X on Monday. "Together, we will quickly deliver on your America First agenda and usher in the new golden age of America. The American people demand and deserve that we waste no time. Let’s get to work!"
Trump’s strategy here is clear: the last thing he needs is a messy battle over the speakership that could derail his agenda from day one. The bitter and prolonged fight to elect Johnson in the first place proved how destructive these internal conflicts can be. Trump’s endorsement of Johnson will hopefully put this division behind us because a divided GOP at the start of Trump’s second term will only empower Democrats.
With a slim majority in the next Congress, Republicans must decide whether to rally behind Johnson or risk a prolonged battle that will not only embolden Democrats but jeopardize Trump’s agenda.
By throwing his weight behind Johnson, Trump is demonstrating pragmatism. He knows that a unified party is essential to achieving his ambitious goal of making America great again. If Republicans aren’t united, they will lose, and if Republicans can’t deliver for the American people, the gains made in 2024 will be for nothing. For Trump, backing Johnson is about playing the long game.
Let’s hope it works.
