The House speakership vote this week was anticipated to be a prolonged and contentious ordeal, raising concerns about a potential constitutional crisis if a speaker couldn’t be elected in time to certify the 2024 election before Inauguration Day. Instead, it became a testament to Donald Trump’s firm grip on the Republican Party—underscoring his ability to steer the GOP toward unity when it matters most.
Make no mistake about it, this isn’t the GOP of old—it’s Trump’s GOP now, and the events surrounding Rep. Mike Johnson’s rise to the Speaker’s gavel only make that more evident.
Trump’s backing of Johnson was not just a casual endorsement; it was a strategic move to minimize drama and unify the party at a critical time when he need the Republican Party to be unified to get this country back on track after four years of Biden-Harris. Initially, Johnson faced a dozen holdouts, threatening yet another round of Republican disarray. In the end, there were only three holdouts during the first vote—a remarkable turnaround that can be traced back to Trump’s influence.
In fact, nearly a dozen members of the House Freedom Caucus sent a letter to their Republican colleagues, explaining that their decision to support Speaker Johnson and keep him in his leadership role was ultimately driven by President-elect Donald Trump.
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Two holdouts, Reps. Ralph Norman and Keith Self, eventually switched their votes. While Norman initially attributed his change to reassurances from Johnson about fiscal priorities, the reality was more telling.
"I said, ‘Mike, are you going to give us specific examples of fighting for the things we mentioned? Will you give us your word?' He said, ‘Yes.’ So I said, 'OK, we'll take you at your word.' That's why I changed my vote," Norman told Fox News on Friday.
However, that wasn’t the entire reason. It turns out that a phone call from Trump—who was in the middle of a golf game, no less—sealed the deal.
Norman told CNN that he had a conversation with Trump ahead of Friday’s vote. "He said 'look I'm in the middle of a golf game,'" Norman said. He then explained how Trump asked him if he had voted for Nikki Haley in the presidential primaries, and Norman said he replied, "Yes sir I did, we're with you now, and I said we will be with Mike Johnson."
A spokesperson for Norman confirmed to Newsweek that he had two conversations with Trump on Friday before Johnson secured the speakership.
"He ended up switching his initial vote after Speaker Johnson reassured him that getting our fiscal house in order is a priority for him as well and so that we can move ahead and focus on President Trump's agenda for the next four years," the spokesperson told Newsweek.
This episode underscores Trump’s unique ability to bring even reluctant members of the GOP to heel. Rep. Thomas Massie was the lone dissenter in the end, but Trump’s intervention ensured all other Republicans rallied behind Johnson. His ability to consolidate the party’s support not only avoided further chaos, but also signaled a promising future for the Republican agenda over the next two years.
More importantly, this is a positive indicator that Trump can keep the GOP united as he embarks on a mission to clean up the mess left by Joe Biden. With the House speaker firmly in place and the party showing signs of cohesion, Trump has set the stage for a unified Republican effort in the months ahead.
Let's hope it lasts.
