Trump backs Johnson for House speaker

Former President Donald Trump is throwing his support behind Rep. Mike Johnson as the next House speaker after the Louisiana lawmaker became his party’s fourth speaker nominee Tuesday night.

“I am not going to make an Endorsement in this race, because I COULD NEVER GO AGAINST ANY OF THESE FINE AND VERY TALENTED MEN, all of whom have supported me, in both mind and spirit, from the very beginning of our GREAT 2016 Victory,” Trump posted to Truth Social Wednesday morning. “My strong SUGGESTION is to go with the leading candidate, Mike Johnson.”

Trump’s endorsement comes as the former president tanked Rep. Tom Emmer’s (R-Minn.) efforts to become House speaker. Emmer won the Republican Conference’s nomination on Tuesday, but Trump took to Truth Social to deride the congressman as “totally out-of-touch with Republican Voters” and a “Globalist RINO.”

Several hours later, Emmer withdrew from the contest.

Late Tuesday night, Johnson won the speaker nomination and now faces an uphill climb to reach 217 votes to win on the House floor when members vote on Wednesday.

Johnson, who is a close ally of Trump, defended the former president during the impeachment hearings and contested the results of the 2020 election.

Trump previously endorsed Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) but Jordan’s efforts to become speaker failed as the lawmaker was unable to garner the voters needed and House Republicans dropped him as their nominee.