WASHINGTON — Nearly a dozen members of the House Freedom Caucus sent a letter to their Republican colleagues Friday saying they ultimately voted for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to retain his leadership role due to the President-elect Donald Trump.
“Today we voted for Mike Johnson for Speaker of the House because of our unwavering support for President Trump and to ensure the timely certification of his electors,” the group wrote. “We did this despite our sincere reservations about the President’s record over the past 15 months.”
In the letter, which was published on social networks less than an hour after the vote officially closed, the 11 members then “demanded that the House of Representatives comply” quickly with Trump’s agenda, emphasizing securing the border, cutting spending, reversing policies of the Biden administration, the end of stock trading by members. of Congress and more.
“Now President Johnson must prove that he will not fail to implement President Trump’s bold agenda,” the lawmakers wrote.
Johnson was re-elected as Speaker of the House Friday after two Republicans who had originally voted for other members changed their votes to the Louisiana Republican. The House remained in limbo for about an hour before the two representatives – Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Keith Self of Texas – finally joined Johnson.
One Republican holdout, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., never switched to Johnson’s side.
Speaking to reporters after the vote, Norman noted that he had spoken with Trump during the delay and said Johnson had given him “assurance that he was going to fight for the things that we think are important to the country “.
“Personally, I haven’t gotten anything other than a commitment that things will change,” he said.
Several of those who signed the letter initially did not vote when their names were called Friday before voting for Johnson at the end of the roll call.
Asset threw his weight behind Johnson Monday, offering his “complete and total endorsement” of the speaker in a post on social media. He then reiterated his support for journalists at a New Year’s Eve event at his Florida club, Mar-a-Lagoadding that he would call reluctant members “if necessary” to lobby for Johnson.