House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) is solidifying his place in President-elect Trump's inner circle, becoming not only a visible, if slightly out-of-place member of his inner circle, but also a member of Trump's inner circle. He has become a key supporter of the next president. He is taking a decisive approach to his second term.
This dynamic puts the House speaker in a position to advance policy and put implicit pressure on congressional Republicans to block Trump's controversial nominees and legislative plans during his first months in office. He will play a vital role in Trump's success.
The president's importance in the MAGA world was on full display Saturday night when he joined a parade of allies accompanying President Trump to the UFC fight at Madison Square Garden. The crew also included Elon Musk. Tulsi Gabbard was nominated by President Trump to be Director of National Intelligence. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., elected Secretary of Health and Human Services. and donald trump jr.
A mild-mannered and conservative Christian, self-introduction The “constitution nerds” and the rest of the tough-guy Trump gang were solemn.
in response to a selfie Johnson snapped a match between music artists Kid Rock and Jelly Roll (the latter has a tattoo on his face) at Saturday's UFC and became an online joker. compared to johnson “A sheltered evangelical boy who went to a secular concert with his public school friends.” And to “The president of the chess club was invited to join the football team.”
But Mr. Trump and Mr. Johnson have a common interest in quickly passing the tax cut extension bill passed during President Trump's first term, among other priorities, and Mr. Johnson has been working with Mr. Trump for months. and Senate Republicans on the plan.
Speaker Rep. Jodi Arrington (R-Texas) said, “The president and the speaker of the House are very different personalities, but we share exactly the same goals and passion to advance an America-first policy agenda that gets our country back on track.” said. He is the chairman of the House Budget Committee and is close to Mr. Johnson. “Mike is a devoted Christian and policy buff, but that doesn't mean he sits in a room all day praying and studying policy memos. He's one of the funniest guys I know. , I love being with people from all walks of life.”
Arrington noted that Johnson's sons were involved in martial arts.
“But for the Speaker, the pen is mightier than the sword…or a rear-naked choke!” Arrington said.
Johnson's skills aren't just limited to the pen. He has also proven to be an important messenger of President Trump's policies on television and other media, which President Trump appreciates, and in doing so has helped Trump side with controversial legislative issues. planted a flag on
The morning after the UFC bout, Johnson appeared on a Sunday news show to defend Trump's position and talk about controversial issues, including former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), whom Trump nominated to head the Department of Justice. He gave a lifeline to the current cabinet candidates.
Johnson followed up on the House Ethics Committee's opposition to releasing a report on Gates because he is no longer a member of Congress. The committee had long investigated the Florida Republican on suspicion of sexual misconduct and illegal drug use. Gates has strongly denied any wrongdoing, although the Justice Department declined to indict him after investigating similar issues.
“I think it's a Pandora's box. We don't want the House Ethics Committee to use all of its vast resources and authority to go after civilians,” Johnson told CNN's “State of the Union.” mentioned in.
This is a change from Gaetz's initial statement when asked about the possibility of the report being released after it was announced that he had been selected as President Trump's attorney general nominee, saying, “The Speaker of the House has no involvement in it.'' “I have not done so and cannot be involved.” among them. ”
Johnson said on CNN that he originally meant that the chairman could not judge the scope of the initial investigation. Also, between the time he said he would not be involved in the investigation and the time he asked for the report, he met President Trump at a party at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, but the ethics report was not filed. He denied ever having spoken to President Trump about the possibility of it being made public. It remains sealed.
On another show, Johnson left open the possibility that Trump could make Cabinet nominees through recess appointments without requiring Senate confirmation.
The Constitution states that neither chamber can adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other chamber, so the House of Representatives, or the Speaker, is debating whether President Trump can adjourn to appoint Cabinet nominees. have a say in the matter.
“We'll evaluate it at the right time and make the right decision. There may be a capability for that. We'll have to see how it goes,” Johnson said on “Fox News Sunday.” , asked whether he supported the recess appointment, replied:
Despite the three-way Republican control, small Republican majorities in both chambers make it difficult to advance high-stakes legislation.
But if Mr. Johnson can project a stance closer to Mr. Trump's, he will be able to overcome these legislative hurdles and defeat the Republican critics who have sowed chaos over the past two years, some of whom are the most defiant of ardent Trump supporters. ) may be useful for managing
“We just need to have a UFC fight every weekend. Whoever leaves with Trump, we'll know who comes out on top in his orbit,” said a Trump supporter who requested anonymity due to employment negotiations. one person told The Hill. Sends a signal of support to Trump to recalcitrant House Republicans.
Mr. Johnson is perhaps closer to Mr. Trump than any other Republican chairman.
The two talk often. In addition to being part of the UFC's inner circle, Johnson has been splitting his time between Washington and Mar-a-Lago since the election.
Before the election, Mr. Johnson had a slot to speak at Mr. Trump's Madison Square Garden rally, where Mr. Trump also praised Mr. Johnson. Buy a small pair of glasses for that small beautiful face with glasses. ”
“Everybody said, 'Oh, he's such a nice guy. He's such a nice guy.' He's not a nice guy. He's not nice at all,” Trump told NBC's “Meet. He referred to a controversial interview with The Press in which Trump said he would “cut off” Johnson's head.[d]” the host.
Last year, there were disagreements over strategy between the two sides. Mr. Trump has publicly advocated for a government shutdown, but Mr. Johnson has warned that such measures would have negative electoral consequences.
However, the two men have still been unable to forge a strong alliance, with the president-elect going out of his way to meet with House Republicans in a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill last week to express his support for Johnson, suggesting that the two men have no intention of forming a strong alliance. is building.
House Republicans nominated Mr. Johnson as speaker in a unanimous vote later that night.
Brett Samuels contributed.
