Rep. Thomas Massey (R-Kentucky) will be defeated by Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) even if his colleague Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) wins the top spot in the House race. confirmed his decision not to support the state in the House of Representatives election. House Rules Committee.
Massey was asked by former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida), the new host of One America News Network, whether he would vote for Johnson if Roy became chairman of the influential committee. asked.
“Oh my god, you can pull out all my nails, you can stick bamboo in my nails, you can start cutting my fingers,” Massey responded late Thursday.
“I'm not voting for Mike Johnson tomorrow. You can take it to the bank,” he told a former colleague.
The Kentucky Republican has publicly voiced his opposition to Johnson's appointment as speaker in recent weeks, arguing that the top House Republican is unfit for the job and that if Johnson retains the gavel, he will be the last They argue that they will lose their slim majority.
“[We] We are looking for a chairperson who can inspire the people and advocate for us in the media. That will ensure Trump maintains a majority for the second half of his term,” Massey previously wrote on social platform X.
“In President Trump's best year, Mr. Johnson almost led us to a minority, and he is certain to lose his majority in 2026,” he added.
As the 119th Congress convenes for the first time Friday afternoon, apart from Massey, there are at least six other hardline conservatives who have not publicly expressed support for the Louisiana Republican.
Potential holdouts include Republican Sens. Andy Biggs (Arizona), Tim Burchett (Tennessee), Lauren Boebert (Colorado), Eric Burleson (Missouri), and Ralph Norman (South Carolina). , Scott Perry (Pennsylvania), Andy Harris (Maryland) and Roy, some of whom met with Mr. Johnson on Thursday. Another wild card is Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), who said she will decide who she supports while voting.
But Johnson has the support of President-elect Trump and key ally Elon Musk.
“Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard-working, godly man. He will do the right thing and we will continue to win. Mike has my full and complete support. MAGA !”Trump I wrote it on Monday In a post on Truth Social.
Johnson will only lose one Republican vote on Friday if everyone shows up, otherwise he risks losing the top spot. Some Democrats supported the House speaker when his gavel was challenged last May, but their preference was for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. ) are likely to vote.
All Democratic senators are expected to attend on Friday.
