Exclusive: Johnson's Trump expectations
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House Speaker Mike Johnson expects he'll get help from a "fully supportive" Trump in a potential speaker race in the next three months.
Why it matters: Johnson needs a speedy Trump endorsement to kneecap any challengers if the GOP holds the House.
- "I have a very close working relationship with President Trump and consider him now a close friend. I know that's mutual, and he tells me how much confidence he has in my leadership," Johnson told us in an exclusive interview.
- I believe he's going to be elected decisively as president, and he will be the leader of our party," he said.
📣 Johnson spoke at today's Trump rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where some fellow speakers railed against "f***ing illegals," called Harris the "anti-Christ" and labeled Hillary Clinton a "sick son of a b**ch," our colleague Alex Thompson reports.
- "We're about to grow that majority. And New York is going to make that happen," Johnson told the rally goers.
Back in 2023, Trump waited to endorse Kevin McCarthy until after a failed third speaker vote.
- McCarthy endured 15 ballots before securing the speakership.
The bottom line: Sources close to Johnson noted he and Trump speak regularly.
- They had a solid relationship prior to Johnson taking over as speaker, with Johnson having played a key role in pushing back on the first Trump impeachment.
— Juliegrace Brufke
