Trump's loyal ally elected Speaker of the US House of Representatives

Lawmakers at the US House of Representatives on October 25 (local time) elected little-known Congressman Mike Johnson of Louisiana as the 56th Speaker of the House of Representatives, ending more than 3 weeks of chaos and paralysis on Capitol Hill.

This marks a “staggering” rise for the conservative ally of former President Donald Trump: from a low-ranking member of the Republican leadership team in the House of Representatives to the third most powerful figure after the President and Vice President of the United States.

A staunch Trump ally, Johnson, 51, played a key role in the Republican Party's efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Despite his affability, Johnson is arguably the most ideologically conservative lawmaker to serve as Speaker of the House since the 1990s. His selection further solidifies the Republican Party's rightward tilt.

After weeks of turmoil, both the far-right and the mainstream Republican Party showed remarkable unity: All 220 Republicans voted for Mr. Johnson. Meanwhile, all 209 Democrats remained unanimous in voting for their own Minority Leader, Mr. Hakeem Jeffries.

Mr Trump praised Mr Johnson as a “great gentleman”. “He’s going to do a great job”, the former president said. The White House said President Joe Biden had called Mr Johnson to congratulate him.

World - Trump's loyal ally elected Speaker of the US House of Representatives — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries hands the gavel to newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson at the Capitol on October 25, 2023. Photo: NPR

The new Speaker of the House will begin his work immediately. Johnson will face a series of challenges that dogged his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy. Domestically, he will have to figure out how to fund the federal government before the money runs out on November 17. And he will need to preside over a deeply divided foreign policy conference as Congress considers the Biden administration’s $105 billion funding request for Israel, Ukraine and the country’s southern border.

Mr Johnson opposes continued funding for the war in Ukraine – an issue that has emerged as a bitter rift within the Republican Party and in the spending battle he will face in the coming days.

In a speech to Parliament marking his rise to power, Mr Johnson pledged to work to “restore people’s confidence in this House”. “The challenge before us is enormous, but the time for action is now,” Mr Johnson said shortly after his election. “And I will not let them down . ”

Minh Duc (According to NBC News, NY Times)

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