President-elect Donald Trump angrily called Ralph Norman while on the golf course after the South Carolina representative voted against Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Norman, 71, was one of three Republicans who voted against Johnson, 52, for the chairman’s re-election on Friday — much to the chagrin of Trump, 78.
But after a phone call from the incoming president, Norman – as well as Keith Self of Texas – changed their minds before the roll call closed.
The vote switch sealed victory for Johnson with the 218 votes he needed to defeat Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
“He said, ‘Look, I’m in the middle of a golf match,’” Norman recalled of Trump’s call. “That was the first time I spoke to him.”
Later, after Trump reportedly brought up Norman’s vote for Nikki Haley, the Republican politician promised the president-elect, “We’re with you now.”
“And I said, ‘We’ll be with Mike Johnson,’” Norman told reporters.
Thomas Massie, representing Norman, Self and Kentucky, originally declined to vote for Johnson to retain his role as speaker.
President-elect Donald Trump called Ralph Norman while on the golf course after the South Carolina representative voted against Mike Johnson for Speaker of the House of Representatives. “He said, ‘Look, I’m in the middle of a golf game,’” Norman recalled
Norman, 71, was one of three Republicans who initially voted against 52-year-old Johnson for speaker’s re-election on Friday – much to the chagrin of 78-year-old Trump. Norman, Keith Self and Thomas Massie initially refused to vote for Johnson to preserve his vote. role as speaker
The 71-year-old and the Texas politician changed their minds after fellow South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace introduced the pair to Trump
Norman cast his vote for Ohio’s Jim Jordan before ultimately switching to Johnson before the roll call closed, sealing Johnson’s first-round victory.
The 71-year-old and the Texas politician changed their minds after fellow South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace introduced the couple to Trump, according to The Washington Post reporter. Leigh Ann Caldwell.
Rep. Massie said he wouldn’t vote for Johnson even if he were tortured.
“You can pull out all my fingernails, you can put bamboo in them, you can start cutting off my fingers. I’m not voting for Mike Johnson tomorrow, and you can take that to the bank,” he said on The Matt Gaetz Show.
Johnson’s quick re-election as chairman means Republicans have avoided the embarrassing pitfall of taking days to choose a leader – as was the case two years ago when they burned 15 ballots in five days before finally settling for former chairman Kevin McCarthy.
The Republicans ultimately sided with Johnson, despite some dissatisfaction from the Republican party who voted dramatically against him early on.
The final total was 218 for Johnson and 215 for Jeffries, giving Johnson a re-election victory on the first ballot.