Mike Johnson was a Republican Re-elected Speaker of the House on Friday, he won a showdown with the right wing of his party after a last-minute endorsement of President-elect Donald Trump.
Johnson was handed the mat after a landslide vote that saw him on course to lose his native Louisiana on the first ballot, before two Republican lawmakers approached the table and reversed course after what he called a “lively debate” with Trump.
Speaking after the victory, Johnson pledged to implement Trump’s “America First” agenda.
“The American people have asked us to reject business as usual and throw out the status quo,” he said. “We must and we will heed their call.”
Representative Mike Johnson is sworn in as Speaker of the House after being re-elected on the first day of the 119th Congress, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 3, 2025.
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Johnson entered the US Capitol on Friday morning in front of more than a dozen undecided Republicans. He spent the day before meeting with potential opponents in his office, and expressed confidence that he would succeed, but ruled out wider consequences if he failed on the first try.
Moments before the roll call vote, Johnson publicly released new commitments on spending and fiscal responsibility, apparently aimed at appeasing some of his skeptical colleagues, many of whom were angry at his handling of the government’s funding battle before Christmas.
Reps. Victoria Spartz and Rep. Chip Roy speak during the first session of the 119th Congress before voting for the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Jan. 3, 2025, at the Capitol in Washington.
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The move boded well for Johnson as several undecided Republicans voted for him early on.
But trouble started when some members of the House Freedom Caucus withheld their votes when they didn’t respond when their names were called.
Then came three Republican defections, effectively removing Johnson’s narrow path to victory.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise tallies votes in the presidential election on the House floor of the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 3, 2025.
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Rep. Thomas Massie casts his vote for Rep. Tom Emmer as the House votes for a Speaker of the House during the first day of the 119th Congress in the Chamber on Capitol Hill, January 03, 2025, in Washington.
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First, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky voted for House Majority Whip Tom Emmer. Then Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina voted for House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and Representative Keith Self of Texas voted for Representative Byron Donalds of Florida.
Voting was open for two tense hours.
Johnson was seen huddled on the floor with several members of the GOP leadership during that time. He then left the chamber, returning to find Norman and Self.
Johnson, Norman, and Self huddled in the closet near the House floor.
They were joined by other Republicans, including Reps. Andy Harris, Andrew Clyde, Andy Ogles, Andy Biggs and Virginia Foxx.
Rep. Mike Johnson speaks to delegates during the first vote for the new Speaker of the House, on the first day of the 119th Congress, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 3, 2025.
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Rep. Mike Johnson walks in front of Rep. Ralph Norman as delegates gather to vote for the new speaker of the House on the first day of the 119th Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 3, 2025.
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President-elect Trump joined the fray, working the phones and speaking with Norman and Self at the gathering near the House floor. ABC News reports.
Self later confirmed the call to reporters. Asked if Trump was upset, Self said it was “a heated debate.”
Johnson also said Trump was a “huge factor” in Friday’s result, saying he was on the phone with the president-elect while the votes were being counted and was “humbled” by his support.
After speaking with Trump, Norman and Self returned to the chamber at 2:30 p.m. and approached the secretaries. Both reversed their previous votes to support Johnson.
That gave Johnson the necessary 218 votes to be elected.
“Ballot counters agree that the total number of votes cast is 434, of which the Honorable Mike Johnson of Louisiana received 218,” House Secretary Kevin McCumber said as he announced the vote.
Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson greets lawmakers as he re-enters the House chamber, January 3, 2025, after winning a vote to retain the Speaker of the House at the Capitol in Washington.
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Republicans in the chamber erupted in thunderous applause.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries gave it to Johnson, who spoke for nearly 20 minutes before giving Johnson the floor.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries hands over the gavel to Rep. Mike Johnson after being re-elected Speaker of the House on the first day of the 119th Congress on Jan. 3, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
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Representatives of the 119th Congress are sworn in on the floor of the House on the first day of their session at the Capitol in Washington, on January 3, 2025.
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Johnson began his remarks with a moment of silence for the victims of the New Orleans attack on New Year’s Day before thanking members and laying out his vision for a Republican-controlled House and Senate under the Trump administration.
“I am grateful for this election, for the confidence this chamber has placed in me. It is the great honor of my life to serve this body with all of you,” Johnson said as he addressed the room before swearing in members. 119. New Congress.
ABC News’ Katherine Faulders, Jay O’Brien, Lauren Peller, John Parkinson and Arthur Jones contributed to this report.
