WASHINGTON—Nearly a dozen members of the House Freedom Caucus sent a letter to their Republican colleagues Friday, urging House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) to retain his leadership role in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump. He said he voted in favor of the state.
“Today, we voted Mike Johnson to be Speaker of the House of Representatives in steadfast support of President Trump and the timely certification of the electors,” the group wrote. “We did this despite our sincere reservations about the Chair’s performance over the past 15 months.”
In a letter posted on social media less than an hour after voting officially ended, the 11 senators went on to point out things like securing borders, cutting spending and shifting policy to support Trump. He called on the House to quickly implement the president’s agenda. The inauguration of the Biden administration, suspension of stock trading by members of Congress, etc.
“Now, Speaker Johnson must prove that he will not fail to implement President Trump’s bold policies,” the lawmakers wrote.
Johnson was re-elected as House speaker on Friday after two Republicans who had originally voted for other members switched their votes to the Louisiana Republican. The House of Representatives was in chaos for about an hour until both Reps. Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Keith Self of Texas finally came forward to support Mr. Johnson.
One of the Republican holdouts, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), never switched to Jonon’s corner.
Norman told reporters after the vote that he had spoken to Trump during the delay and that Johnson had given him “assurances that we are going to fight for what we think is important to the country.”
“I personally got nothing out of it other than a determination that things were going to change,” he said.
Some of those who signed the letter did not initially vote when their names were called on Friday, but voted for Mr. Johnson at the end of the roll call.
President Trump endorsed Johnson on Monday, saying in a social media post that he has his “complete and complete support.” He later reiterated his support to reporters at a New Year’s Eve event at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, saying he would call on reluctant members to lobby Johnson “if necessary.” added.
