Trump endorses House Speaker Mike Johnson amid Republican infighting

(WASHINGTON) — President-elect Donald Trump on Monday threw his support behind Speaker Mike Johnson amid a fight over the House gavel that will culminate in a vote at the end of the week.

“Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man,” Trump wrote at the end of a lengthy social media post. “He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement.”

Later Monday, Trump ally Elon Musk, who will run the president-elect’s “Department of Government Efficiency, endorsed Johnson as well, writing on X, “I feel the same way! You have my full support,” Musk wrote, replying to Johnson’s post thanking Trump for his support.

In his post, Trump also boasted about his successful 2024 White House run, praising Republicans for running a “legendary” campaign while railing against President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

He urged Republicans to “not blow” an opportunity for a “relief” from the outgoing administration — calling for Republicans to support Johnson.

Johnson, who faced pushback from members of his own party over his leadership during the recent government shutdown fight, thanked Trump for his endorsement.

“I’m honored and humbled by your support, as always,” Johnson wrote on X. “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.”

But the announcement from the president-elect didn’t impact at least one of Johnson’s detractors.

“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,” Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., wrote on X. “We’ve seen Johnson partner with the democrats to send money to Ukraine, authorize spying on Americans, and blow the budget.”

Massie previously told ABC News he would not be voting for Johnson as speaker.

Indiana Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz said she wants “assurances” that Johnson can deliver Trump’s agenda before she would support him.

“President Trump will be able to save America only if we have a speaker with courage, vision and a plan – also public commitment to the American people how he will help deliver President Trump’s agenda to drain the swamp,” Spartz wrote on X after Trump’s endorsement.

She earlier suggested to Fox News that if Johnson is not willing to deliver on the president-elect’s agenda, he’s not worthy of being elected speaker again.

“If he wants to be a speaker, he needs to commit publicly how he’s going to be fulfilling his constitutional duties,” Spartz said on “Fox & Friends,” adding, “I’m not asking him to go beyond what he has to do by Constitution.”

Spartz also said some of her GOP colleagues are interested in the speaker’s gavel, but she wouldn’t reveal which members because they wouldn’t publicly oppose Johnson.

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