Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday spoke highly of all remaining Republican candidates for Speaker but said he strongly suggests that the GOP goes with “the leading candidate, Mike Johnson, & GET IT DONE, FAST!”
Trump congratulated Republicans on Wednesday for the progress they made the day prior in narrowing down their choices for House Speaker weeks after Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) succeeded in his effort to oust now former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
At the beginning of the day on Tuesday, eight candidates — Reps. Jack Bergman (MI), Byron Donalds (FL), Tom Emmer (MN), Kevin Hern (OK), Mike Johnson (LA), Gary Palmer (AL), Austin Scott (GA), and Pete Sessions (TX) had their names in the mix. While Emmer emerged as the leader, he eventually dropped out after it became clear he would not have the votes to succeed.
Breitbart News detailed:
Emmer secured the nomination on the fifth round of voting Tuesday after the lowest vote getter was eliminated following each round. The tally in the final round was 117 for Emmer with 97 for Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), with a handful voting “present” or for other candidates.
His 117 votes were fewer than Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), the previous nominee, had secured upon winning the nomination last week, and only four more than Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) garnered while securing his nomination the week prior.
Trump warned Republicans on Tuesday that “Voting for a Globalist RINO like Tom Emmer would be a tragic mistake!”
Johnson emerged as the House Speaker nominee mere hours later — news which was welcomed by former President Trump.
He wrote:
Congratulations to Congressional Republicans! Yesterday was a big and very important day. It gave us a quick and easy way forward with 5 candidates who are beyond reproach, and represent the absolute best there is in the Republican Party. Even the Fake News Media is impressed with what took place yesterday and, more importantly, with the Candidates themselves.
Trump offered congratulations to “Reps. Byron Donalds (Florida), Charles J. ‘Chuck’ Fleischmann (Tennessee), Mark Green (Tennessee), & Roger Williams (Texas), & the ultimate winner of yesterday’s vote, by a significant margin, Mike Johnson (Louisiana).”
“I am not going to make an Endorsement in this race, because I COULD NEVER GO AGAINST ANY OF THESE FINE AND VERY TALENTED MEN,” he said, “all of whom have supported me, in both mind and spirit, from the very beginning of our GREAT 2016 Victory. In 2024, we will have an even bigger, & more important, WIN!”
Despite not offering a clear endorsement, Trump offered his “strong SUGGESTION” to “go with the leading candidate, Mike Johnson, & GET IT DONE, FAST!”
The House gavels in at noon as the Speaker’s race continues.
