Mike Johnson is facing a serious threat to his speakership, prompting him to align himself with Donald Trump, the most powerful figure in the Republican Party. Johnson has planned to appear at a joint news conference with Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss “election integrity,” a topic that Trump is passionate about. His allies have requested Trump’s public support and advised Johnson to keep Trump informed about a controversial Ukraine aid package that could jeopardize his leadership position.
By staying in Trump’s good graces, Johnson hopes to gain political cover to navigate challenges and prevent a right-wing revolt. Johnson has been a strong supporter of Trump and played a role in Trump’s efforts to contest the 2020 election results. However, it may be challenging for Johnson to completely align himself with Trump, as he has supported funding for Ukraine and a foreign surveillance law reauthorization that Trump opposes.
Despite speaking with Trump about potential ouster threats, Johnson has not disclosed whether he sought Trump’s backing. Trump’s team also declined to comment on the situation. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a vocal Trump supporter aiming to remove Johnson from his position, has also recently spoken with Trump, but declined to share his stance on her efforts. Trump has reportedly expressed a desire to avoid another speaker fight, suggesting he may not endorse Greene’s actions.
Johnson plans to address the Ukraine aid issue as lawmakers return to Washington, but has kept his strategy private so far. He has floated ideas to make the proposal more appealing to conservatives, such as structuring the aid as a loan, similar to Trump’s previous suggestions. Some House Republicans believe that seeking Trump’s support for the Ukraine aid package would make it more acceptable to conservative members.
Several Trump allies have expressed cautious optimism about aiding Ukraine following a meeting between Trump and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron. However, Greene continues to push for Johnson to abandon his plans for the Ukraine aid package and foreign surveillance law reauthorization. Johnson’s support within the party remains uncertain, as some members are waiting to see how he handles these contentious issues.
