House Speaker Mike Johnson held onto his job, but there are signs of trouble ahead

WASHINGTON — This time it should have been different.

But that’s what House Speaker Mike Johnson said Friday avoided the days-long ordeal that its predecessor, Kevin McCarthywho held out to become speaker, his relatively quick victory was hardly a unifying moment. The day’s tumult made clear that Johnson has only weak support from hardline Conservatives who have given him their vote for now but are ready to dismiss him. just like they did McCarthy if their demands are not met.

“Is he going to fight?” said Rep. Ralph Norman, a Republican from South Carolina who initially opposed Johnson but eventually changed his vote.

Republicans are enjoy the moment as they take joint control of Washington and rally behind the president-elect Donald Trump. Still, the elements that have created a turbulent House over the past two years remain stubbornly in place, except that the stakes are now much higher as Republicans try to deliver on Trump’s agenda.

The scale of the coming conflict became clear as Congress began its new session on Friday. Republicans in the House of Representatives shot at each other on TV and argued in the House of Representatives, the freshly elected speaker looked concerned, and even after Johnson’s victory, some Republican lawmakers openly discussed what might have prompted his resignation.

For a while it looked like the situation would get worse.

The House chamber seemed to return to a familiar scene from the speaker vote two years ago while arch-conservatives refused to back Johnson, gesticulating as they negotiated openly on the floor. But after an hour of uncertainty and tense negotiations — and after Trump called from a golf course to make clear he was supporting Johnson — two of the three Republicans who initially denied Johnson the speakership changed their votes to give him the majority he needed had.

Norman said it wasn’t so much Trump that changed his mind, but the fact that Johnson, huddled with the backbenchers in the back of the House chamber, promised that he would indeed “fight for everything in the future.”

Easier said than done.

Johnson faces the difficult task of leading a Republican majority that will be even smaller than the last Congress — possibly down to just one vote, once a handful of members join Trump’s administration.

Last year, the narrow majority, as well as the almost constant resistance from his right flank, forced Johnson to do so count on democratic support pass virtually every major piece of legislation.

Johnson tried to turn the page in his first speech after winning the gavel, arguing that Republicans are now being controlled by a “tidal wave of Americans” who want to end the status quo in Washington.

“Speaker Johnson claims that in an environment where we have the White House and the Republican Senate, he will be able to get the job done,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who has been outspoken in his criticism. from Johnson. “So we’ll give him a chance to see it. But we have to deliver. There is no room for excuses now.”

Making matters even more difficult: Even if Johnson manages to unify his conference in the House of Representatives, most legislation will still need at least some Democratic support in the Senate, where the chamber’s filibuster rules prevent most from passing. bills are passed unless they receive the support of at least sixty senators. . Republicans will have a 53-47 majority in the Senate.

“He has a very, very tough job,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Republican leadership has mitigated one threat to Johnson by making it more difficult to oust the speaker through a so-called motion to leave. Each motion will now require at least nine members of the majority party, instead of being tabled by one parliamentarian. Democrats protested that Republicans are shielding the speaker from bipartisan responsibility.

Yet within minutes of Johnson gaining the support he needed to assume the speakership, the House Freedom Caucus released a letter signed by eleven members demanding that Johnson achieve ambitious policy goals, including passing of permanent changes to border security, implementing aggressive federal budget cuts and banning members. of Congress from stock trading.

Caucus members said Johnson must now “prove that he will not fail to implement President Trump’s bold agenda.”

At the same time, conservatives are also calling for guarantees to reduce the federal budget deficit and to remove power from the office of speaker by giving rank-and-file members more control over what is written into legislation. While such promises could be difficult to keep, Johnson pledged to work closely with members of the Freedom Caucus in crafting legislation.

“Speakers typically don’t last very long,” said Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., a caucus member. “I would say this about Speaker Johnson: As long as this is a member-driven process, I think his speakership will be successful. If that is not the case, it will be difficult.”

Nine Conservatives initially withheld their support for Johnson during the vote for speaker by either remaining silent as their names were called or voting for someone else. Many saw it as a not-so-subtle message that the motion to leave is still there, even if the rules change.

The warning was even voiced to Johnson during a conversation about the speaker’s vote, Norman said.

Norman said Johnson responded, “Look, if I don’t perform like I say, I’m going to perform and push the things you say, then take me out.” I never thought I would get this job.’”