Swearing-In Ceremony for Matt Van Epps

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson officially swore in Matt Van Epps, the newly elected representative from Tennessee, on Thursday morning. This followed Van Epps’ recent victory in a special election aimed at filling the seat left by former Congressman Mark Green, who resigned in July to transition to the private sector.

Van Epps, a Republican, won the election by a margin of roughly 9 points against Democrat Aftin Behn, despite the fact that Donald Trump carried this district by 22 points in the previous year’s election.

Currently, Republicans have a slim majority in the House with 220 members, though this count may soon decrease due to the impending resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia.

“We can’t take anything for granted,” Johnson stated. He has been managing one of the smallest majorities in history and emphasized the importance of every seat.

In a post on his Truth social platform, President Trump celebrated Van Epps’ success, stating, “Great win last night for Matt Van Epps and his wonderful family. He will be a great representative of the great state of Tennessee for many years to come!”

Shortly after the swearing-in, Johnson faced criticism for waiting 50 days to swear in Rep. Adelita Grijalva from Arizona, who had won a special election. He attributed his delay to a record 43-day government shutdown that had occurred while Congress was in session.

“Remember when he made Adelita Grijalva wait 50 days?” questioned the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

During the ceremony, Van Epps spoke passionately about his Christian and conservative values, making clear the principles he intends to promote in Congress. He remarked, “I come to this honorable organization as a Christian, as a husband, as a father, and as an Army special operations helicopter pilot who has served nine combat tours.” He also noted that America’s strength lies in its commitment to freedom and supporting hardworking families.

Van Epps committed to advancing Trump’s “America First” agenda, emphasizing that voters sent him to Washington to take action, not merely to give speeches.

“Fun fact: He swore the oath on a hot pink Bible that belonged to his daughter. It had her name on it!” Johnson shared with reporters, noting that he had never encountered such a unique circumstance before.

In summary, Van Epps has taken his seat with clear aspirations to represent Tennessee’s values and goals while navigating a complex political landscape ahead.