The Republican Party is facing a nail-biter as the vote for House Speaker looms on January 3. Mike Johnson, the current speaker, is walking a tightrope, with just one or two votes to spare. If he loses support, the GOP could be in for another messy fight—something nobody wants.
Representative James Comer didn’t mince words during a recent interview. “We’ve got five Republicans holding out on Johnson,” he said, urging President-elect Donald Trump to step in. “All this is going to do is delay everything, including certifying Trump’s election victory.”
Johnson’s troubles started when he backed a temporary spending deal that didn’t include Trump’s push to raise the debt ceiling. While Trump hasn’t publicly weighed in, his influence could tip the scales.
New York Representative Mike Lawler didn’t hold back either. He warned his ultraconservative colleagues against making the same mistake that led to Kevin McCarthy’s removal last year. “Removing Mike Johnson would be just as stupid,” he said bluntly. “We can’t waste time fighting each other when there’s so much to get done.”
The GOP has 219 seats but needs 218 votes to elect a speaker without help from Democrats. With Congressman Thomas Massie already a “no” on Johnson, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Will Trump step in to rally the holdouts and keep the GOP united? Or is another leadership battle on the horizon? One thing’s for sure—time is ticking, and the country is watching.