Exclusive: Johnson expects "fully supportive" Trump for speaker race

• "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 Axios in an exclusive interview.
• "I expect that he'll be fully supportive so that will make a big difference," Johnson said.
• "I believe he's going to be elected decisively as president, and he will be the leader of our party, and he'll have a large voice in everything that happens in Washington, so it'll be important."

Back in 2023, Trump waited to endorse former House speaker Kevin McCarthy until after the 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.