2024

By Bo Erickson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday threw his support behind House Speaker Mike Johnson, who will stand for reelection to the top job this week with a slim Republican majority in the House of Representatives.

“Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement. MAGA!!!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The House is scheduled to elect a speaker on Friday following the swearing-in of the new Congress. The endorsement from Trump is essential to Johnson’s hopes of maintaining the leadership position he assumed in October 2023.

The job puts him in a close working relationship with Trump, who returns to the White House on Jan. 20.

Thirty-four Republicans voted against Johnson’s stopgap funding bill in December, raising questions on whether some of them would support Johnson’s next bid for the speakership because they argued the legislation favored Democrats.

Republicans hold a 219-215 majority in the House, meaning the vote will likely be dependent on Republicans maintaining their unity.

Representative Victoria Spartz, a Republican, said on Fox News on Monday that she remained uncommitted, saying Johnson was afraid to bring up votes on fiscal legislation that could hamper Trump’s agenda.

“I can give him a chance, but I would like to hear from him how he’s going to be delivering this agenda,” Spartz said. She spoke before Trump posted his endorsement on social media.

Moderate New York Republican Representative Mike Lawler on Sunday told ABC-TV’s “This Week” program: “The fact is that these folks are playing with fire, and if they think they’re somehow going to get a more conservative speaker (than Johnson) they’re kidding themselves.”

Some lawmakers are urging the creation of a commission to examine ways to bring down escalating U.S. budget deficits and a national debt that has topped $36 trillion, by possibly trimming spending on government-run retirement and healthcare programs.

Democrats oppose reducing those programs’ benefits and have called for shoring up their fiscal condition largely through higher taxes on the wealthy.

Given Republicans’ narrow majority, if as few as two were to vote for someone other than Johnson, it could doom his bid to continue as speaker.

Prior to Trump’s endorsement, Republican Representative Thomas Massie on Monday reiterated his intention to oppose Johnson’s election. He and other right-wing Republicans have pushed for deep domestic spending cuts.

No other Republican has publicly challenged Johnson for the leadership position but lawmakers have wide latitude to cast votes for whoever they want, including citizens who are not members of the House.

The chamber went three weeks without a speaker in 2023 after a small group of Republicans voted to oust then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

If Johnson — or another Republican — is unable to coalesce a majority of support, the chamber could be without a speaker in time for the official certification of Trump’s victory on Jan. 6, sparking an uncertain path forward as it is difficult for the House to do business without a speaker.

Whoever ultimately does obtain the speaker’s gavel likely will have to temporarily govern with even a tighter majority after Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration, as he has picked two House Republicans to join his administration.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu, Bo Erickson; Editing by Howard Goller, Richard Cowan and Alistair Bell)

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By Bo Erickson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -January brings several consequential dates for the U.S. Congress as Republicans consolidate power as a result of last November’s elections with full control of the Senate, House of Representatives and White House. 

JAN. 3:

The 119th Congress convenes with new members being sworn in. Republicans hold a narrow majority of 219-215 in the House. The Senate majority is 53-47, well below the 60-vote threshold needed to advance most legislation. 

Republican Senator John Thune already has been selected for the top job of Senate majority leader, but all eyes will be on the lower chamber as the House votes for speaker.

Speaker Mike Johnson is running to stay in his position and is backed by President-elect Donald Trump. However, if as few as two Republicans vote against Johnson, his speakership could be in jeopardy because a majority of the chamber is needed to win.

Democrats will nominate Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to challenge Johnson for the speakership but are expected to fall a few votes short.

The party with the majority — no matter how slim — is always expected to win the speaker’s post.

JAN. 6:

Exactly four years after an angry mob of Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol trying to stop the congressional certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory, Congress will once again convene to certify Trump’s 2024 win during a joint session of Congress. Vice President Kamala Harris, who Trump defeated in the election, will preside over the Electoral College count in her dual capacity as Senate president.

Hostility like the 2021 Capitol riot is not expected, yet Congress has since then passed reforms to the certification process to prevent outside disruptions. Trump has vowed to pardon some of the Jan. 6 defendants when he takes office.

JAN. 7-9: 

President Joe Biden has declared Jan. 9 a national day of mourning and the official state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter, who died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100. Congressional leaders announced the coffin bearing Carter’s remains will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda from Jan. 7 to Jan. 9 in the run-up to the state funeral. 

JAN. 20: 

Trump will be sworn in on the West Front steps of the Capitol and takes office as the 47th president, only the second president to be reelected after leaving office. Trump is expected to announce dozens of executive actions on his first day in office from immigration changes to energy decisions. 

Once Trump is inaugurated, he will be able to formally nominate his Cabinet picks and some Senate confirmation votes could be held promptly.

(Reporting by Bo Erickson; editing by Richard Cowan and David Gregorio)

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