Republican Mike Johnson was re-elected Speaker of the US House at the first attempt , but not without some difficulty. When all the media had already decreed the flop of the count, two of the three Republicans who had not supported him changed their minds in extremis, apparently after a phone call from Donald Trump. Final count: 218 for him, 215 for the Democratic candidate Hakeem Jeffries and one vote "other".
So, the first test for the president-elect and the Republican Party was positive on the first day of the inauguration of the new Congress (the 119th), which the Grand Old Party controls together with the White House. The outgoing speaker Mike Johnson had run again, saying he was confident he could make it on the first ballot . He had the endorsement of the tycoon on his side, who had prophesied "a successful vote".
The victory came after a false start, when two Republicans threatened to vote against Johnson. According to some rumors, it was a call from Donald Trump that broke the deadlock, allowing the 52-year-old Louisiana congressman to continue in the office he has held since 2023.
“Congratulations to Speaker Mike Johnson on receiving an unprecedented vote of confidence in Congress,” the tycoon wrote in Truth after his re-election. “The American people have waited four years for common sense, strength, and leadership. They will get it now, and America will be greater than ever .”
(Online Union)
