House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) was in New York for various events when he contacted former President Trump to inform him that he would be heading to the Manhattan courthouse where Trump’s criminal trial would be held the next morning. Ta.
A source close to Johnson told Fox News Digital that Johnson made the decision himself and contacted President Trump directly. Sources said he rode with Trump in the motorcade Tuesday morning.
“I’m here today by myself to support President Trump because I’m one of hundreds of millions of people who care deeply about this issue,” he told reporters afterward. So I’m glad to be here.”
Mr. Johnson is the highest-ranking federal lawmaker to appear at Mr. Trump’s criminal proceedings so far, and the two men have built a strong alliance since Mr. Johnson took over as chairman following the October scandal. It has become a public symbol of
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House Speaker Mike Johnson is a close ally of former President Trump, according to multiple sources. (AP Photo/Wilfried Lee)
Sources close to Trump and Johnson told Fox News Digital that the two speak frequently, with one Republican estimating they speak “at least weekly,” but that “it depends on the issue. ” he added.
A source close to Johnson told Fox News Digital that Johnson is keeping Trump informed about major developments taking place in the House of Representatives.
Those same allies emphasized that a close relationship between elected Congressional leaders and the party’s prospective presidential nominee is a positive for the House and the Republican Party as a whole.
“This is a win-win,” said Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), who previously served in the Trump administration. “It’s good for both parties. It’s good for the House, but it’s also good for the party. That’s because we’re approaching it from a different direction.” Cabinet told Fox News Digital.
Zinke said Trump and Johnson work very well together, arguing that their “uniquely different” personalities create good chemistry.
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“I think both countries understand that there needs to be a united effort, and it has to be a friendly relationship…If we convene the House, it will be essential to the America First agenda. I think there’s a recognition that it is,” Zinke said. “You have a 100 percent New Yorker with high elbows and bravado. And you have a kind, reserved son of a Louisiana firefighter. So maybe there’s a good match.”
“President Trump has said it a lot, both behind the scenes and in public,” Rep. Dan Muser (R-Pennsylvania) told Fox News Digital. [Johnson]. I think he trusts him, like a lot of people do.”
Johnson spoke to reporters outside Manhattan Criminal Court after attending Trump’s trial. (Getty Images)
Muser added:[Trump] He thinks he can probably improve in some areas. Like I said, I think we should have fought harder on some of those bills. But I think those bills have a really special relationship. ”
Indeed, Mr. Trump has previously used his powerful influence to pull Mr. Johnson out of a deadlock in Congress, and has sought public support for threats by Republican insurgents to remove him from leadership. and has shown tacit support for Mr. Johnson’s foreign aid plans.
Mr. Johnson fiercely defended Mr. Trump during his criminal trial, even recently calling for the defunding of special counsel Jack Smith.
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That support extends behind closed doors as well: Mr. Johnson touted Trump’s polling numbers in key battleground states during a members-only House Republican conference Wednesday morning, according to people familiar with the matter.
And while he was not the first House Republican leader to support Trump’s reelection, the decision appeared to be swift and unilateral, like much of Johnson’s political calculations regarding the former president.
Mr. Trump publicly supported Mr. Johnson amid threats of expulsion led by Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
For November CNBC interview When Mr. Johnson made news by endorsing Mr. Trump, people close to him recalled being advised to wait until his political team had finalized a formal development.
But Mr Johnson insisted there was no point in waiting as he had already endorsed the former president’s re-election bid, later telling Squawk Box: “I fully support President Trump.” However, the staff members were caught off guard. ”
Multiple lawmakers have classified Trump and Johnson’s relationship as a productive but successful relationship, with one Republican who spoke to Fox News Digital saying their relationship started from “pretty much nothing.” However, a source cited a recent interview to claim this. atlantic There, Mr. Johnson said Mr. Trump called him the day after Mr. Johnson had to abruptly leave a meeting because his sons nearly drowned.
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“President Trump somehow heard about this. Miraculously, this never made the news,” Johnson said. “He was so touched by the idea that we were so close to losing them…and we talked about the faith aspect of it, because he knew that I believed that. Because, you know, that’s how I understand God saving my sons’ lives. There was an event and I talked about it.”
Congressman Ryan Zinke, who served in the Trump administration and is close to Johnson, told Fox News Digital that the two men’s “uniquely different” personalities make them a good match. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
The person said Johnson had a good relationship with Trump when he joined Trump’s impeachment defense team in 2020.
“I think it’s a healthy relationship. I think they both respect each other,” Rep. Ronnie Jackson (R-Texas), another staunch Trump ally, told Fox News Digital. And we don’t always agree, but who does?” , I think they have a relationship where they can meet in person or talk on the phone and come up with common plans and strategies. ”
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Representative Andy Barr of Kentucky, a fellow Republican who is close to both men, said the relationship between the two parties has been “very beneficial” to both parties.
“A lot of trust [goes] To both gentlemen who acknowledged that they needed each other. We need to cooperate not only politically, but we want to spend the first 100 days effectively. We want to increase our majority, take back the White House and flip the Senate, and we want to be ready from day one,” Barr said.
FOX News Digital has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.
