Trump called two last-minute GOP ‘yes’ votes ahead of Johnson's victory
President-elect Trump called two of the final Republican holdouts before they switched their votes in support of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), sources told The Hill, underscoring the incoming president’s influence in the House GOP conference.
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), who initially voted for Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), and Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas), who initially voted for Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), both confirmed that they spoke with Trump Friday afternoon after withholding their support from Johnson, a posture that would have left the Louisiana Republican short of the Speaker’s gavel. Both lawmakers are members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.
“TRUMP WAS GREAT !!” Norman told The Hill in a text message.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) also called Trump after Johnson appeared to fall short of the Speakership and spoke with the holdouts, a source told The Hill.
Norman and Self, along with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), were the only Republicans who withheld support from Johnson during the first ballot of Friday’s Speakership race. Massie, who publicly announced his opposition to Johnson in the lead-up to the election, voted for House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.).
All other Republicans threw their support behind Johnson, and all Democrats voted for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), meaning those three GOP defections would have been enough to keep Johnson from clinching the gavel.
After the vote, Johnson was seen walking into a room off the House floor along with Norman and Self as the first ballot remained open.
Nearly an hour after all members cast their vote for Speaker, Norman and Self walked into the well of the House chamber and asked the clerk to change their votes to Johnson, giving the Louisiana Republican the majority vote he needed to win the gavel.
In a statement on X, Self said he changed his vote after receiving assurances from Johnson regarding fiscal responsibility.
“My sole focus was advancing the Trump agenda. To ensure this, I expressed concerns to Speaker Johnson about fiscal responsibility and holding the line on deficit spending—key priorities for my constituents,” Self wrote. “After receiving firm assurances from the Speaker, that Republicans in the House will have strong representation during the budget reconciliation process—a cornerstone of President Trump’s agenda—I changed my initial vote.”
“I appreciate Speaker Johnson addressing these critical issues,” he continued. “Let’s get to work!”
Trump congratulated Johnson after he won the gavel, calling his victory “an unprecedented Vote of Confidence in Congress.”
“Mike will be a Great Speaker, and our Country will be the beneficiary. The People of America have waited four years for Common Sense, Strength, and Leadership. They’ll get it now, and America will be greater than ever before!” he added.
Trump endorsed Johnson for Speaker earlier this week and re-upped his support for the Louisiana Republican shortly before Friday’s vote.
While Johnson won the gavel, trouble is still looming. A group of 11 hardline Republicans — including Norman — penned a letter to GOP lawmakers shortly after Friday’s vote writing that they still have “sincere reservations” about Johnson.
“Today, we voted for Mike Johnson for Speaker of the House because of our steadfast support of President Trump and to ensure the timely certification of his electors. We did this despite our sincere reservations regarding the Speaker’s track record over the past 15 months,” they wrote.
Emily Brooks and Mike Lillis contributed.