Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana has officially become the new Speaker of the House of Representatives after a tumultuous three-week period of Speaker nominations.
Pundits and the press began digging into his record as soon as the announcement was made. Trump supporters were pleased, while establishment Democrats and Republicans who support the Ukraine War effort were unhappy.
Pundit Benny Johnson had the highest-performing X post on the trending story, highlighting the new Speaker’s objection to certifying the 2020 election, his role as legal defense for Trump during his impeachment trials, and his call to arrest Pelosi for ripping up Trump’s State of the Union speech in 2020.
🚨 WE HAVE A SPEAKER: Who is Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana?
-He’s America First & MAGA
-Ally of the House Freedom Caucus
-His mentor is Jim Jordan
-He served as legal defense for Trump during both impeachment trials
-Voted against all Ukraine spending after the initial bill… pic.twitter.com/mRWUbXMubT— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 25, 2023
Neocon Iraq War architect and Democratic Party convert Bill Kristol slammed Johnson for his alleged allegiance to the MAGA movement and his voting record on Ukraine War spending.
FYI. Mike Johnson: Ukraine report card.https://t.co/SZWCqwMyTf
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) October 25, 2023
If Mike Johnson wins, and unless he’s made private commitments for a floor vote on Ukraine and funding government: Gaetz wins, MAGA wins, and Trump wins, and institutionalist™️, responsible™️, moderate™️ Republicans lose, once again having pitifully folded when the crunch came.
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) October 25, 2023
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Trump, who supported Johnson’s nomination, commended the vote. “He’s going to make us all proud,” he said.
BREAKING: Donald Trump congratulates Mike Johnson on becoming Speaker of the House pic.twitter.com/J3ngtaqSly
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) October 25, 2023
Matt Gaetz had high praise for the decision. “It is going to be a great moment for the House,” he said. “If you don’t think that moving from Kevin McCarthy to MAGA Mike Johnson shows the ascendance of this movement and where the power in the Republican Party truly lies, then you’re not paying attention.”
Matt Gaetz to Steve Bannon: "If you don't think that moving from Kevin McCarthy to MAGA Mike Johnson shows the ascendance of this movement and where the power in the Republican Party truly lies, then you're not paying attention." pic.twitter.com/Fl5l3iO4i9
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 25, 2023
Reps. Steve Scalise (R-LA), Jim Jordan (R-OH), and Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) were all nominated by the GOP at separate points but failed to secure the vote in the end. It was looking like a close call for the Republican Party, as Democratic Minority Leader continuously got full support from House Democrats, keeping him just a few votes away from winning the Speakership each round.
Yesterday, after Emmer dropped out of the race just four hours after being nominated, some 10 Republicans were suggested in his place such as Byron Donalds (R-FL), Pete Sessions (R-TX), and Kevin Hern (R-OK), before the Party eventually decided on Johnson late in the evening.
“Democracy is messy sometimes but it is our system,” Johnson said when he announced his nomination to Speaker last night. “This conference you see, this House Republican Majority, is united, is united.”
GOP speaker nominee @RepMikeJohnson: "Democracy is messy sometimes, but it is our system. This conference that you see, this House Republican majority, is united." pic.twitter.com/YBuG2esWd4
— CSPAN (@cspan) October 25, 2023
“We’re going to serve the people of this country. We’re going to restore their faith in this Congress, in this institution of government. America is the last, best hope of man on the earth. Abraham Lincoln said it, Ronald Reagan used to remind us all the time, and we’re here to remind you of that again,” he went on. “This group here is ready to govern, and we’re going to govern well.”
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