Former President Donald Trump encouraged House Republicans to vote for the newly-elected GOP speaker nominee, Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, on Wednesday.
Johnson is the fourth House Republican to secure the conference’s nomination after House Majority Whip Tom Emmer withdrew from the race Tuesday afternoon, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan failed to receive enough support to secure the gavel. Though Trump refrained from making an official endorsement, he wrote on Truth Social that his “strong SUGGESTION” is to back Johnson for speaker ahead of the House floor vote.
“Congratulations to Congressional Republicans! Yesterday was a big and very important day. It gave us a quick and easy way forward with 5 candidates who are beyond reproach, and represent the absolute best there is in the Republican Party. Even the Fake News Media is impressed with what took place yesterday and, more importantly, with the Candidates themselves,” Trump wrote. “Congratulations to Reps. Byron Donalds (Florida), Charles J. “Chuck” Fleischmann (Tennessee), Mark Green (Tennessee), & Roger Williams (Texas), & the ultimate winner of yesterday’s vote, by a significant margin, Mike Johnson (Louisiana).”
“I am not going to make an Endorsement in this race, because I COULD NEVER GO AGAINST ANY OF THESE FINE AND VERY TALENTED MEN, all of whom have supported me, in both mind and spirit, from the very beginning of our GREAT 2016 Victory. In 2024, we will have an even bigger, & more important, WIN! My strong SUGGESTION is to go with the leading candidate, Mike Johnson, & GET IT DONE, FAST! LOVE, DJT ,” Trump added.
Trump also weighed in on the conference’s nomination of Emmer on Truth Social on Tuesday, criticizing the majority whip for being a Republican-In-Name-Only (RINO). Emmer withdrew from the race shortly after.
Johnson, who is the vice chairman of the House Republican Conference, was one of the nine members vying for the GOP nomination on Tuesday. The four-term congressman won the secret ballot vote Tuesday evening after beating out Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida, Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, Mark Green of Tennessee and Roger Williams of Texas.
Johnson did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
Mary Lou Masters on October 25, 2023
