Mike Johnson Re-elected House Speaker in Dramatic Floor Vote

Prez-elect Donald Trump had endorsed Johnson, and was on the phone during the crucial House vote to secure the outcome

- Associated Press

WASHINGTON: Republican Mike Johnson narrowly won re-election on Friday as House speaker on a first ballot, overcoming hard-right GOP holdouts in a tense standoff and buoyed by a nod of support from President-elect Donald Trump.

The uneasy scene brought an ominous start to the first day of the new Congress. A small collection of hardline Republicans convened in the back of the House chamber, one by one declining to vote or choosing another lawmaker. Johnson's face turned grim, acknowledging fresh turmoil and signaling trouble ahead for him as Trump returns to the White House with unified GOP control of Washington.

In the end, however, Johnson was able to flip two holdouts who switched to support him, with help from Trump, who called the dissenting Republican lawmakers from the golf course. The final tally was 218-215.

Johnson, visibly relieved, vowed to "reject business as usual" in his first speech with the gavel.

"We're going to drastically cut back the size and scope of government," he promised.

Trump's agenda Johnson's weak grip on the gavel has threatened not only his own survival but Trump's ambitious agenda of tax cuts and mass deportations as Republicans sweep to power in the House and the Senate. The stark vote tally laid bare the challenges he faces. Even backing from Trump himself, usually a surer bet for Republicans, was no guarantee of Johnson's ability to stay in the speaker's office.