Staff Reports
Rep. James Comer from Kentucky is sounding the alarm bells as Republicans prepare for a potentially messy battle over the speakership in January. With some House Republicans hesitating on supporting Mike Johnson’s reelection, Comer has made it abundantly clear that he believes former President Donald Trump’s intervention could be the key to resolving the chaos and ensuring party unity.
During a segment on Fox News, Comer pointed out that there are currently five Republicans unwilling to commit to voting for Johnson, leaving him with almost no margin for error. If Johnson loses a couple of votes, his continuity as speaker could be in jeopardy. Comer isn’t merely tossing around suggestions—he is practically begging Trump to pick up the phone and convince these wavering members that backing Johnson is the only way forward. If they don’t, they risk not just internal party strife but delays that could potentially hinder Trump’s election certification process.
Will Chuck Grassley really become U.S. president if there's no House speaker to certify Trump victory?
Rep. James Comer urges #Trump to get everyone united behind #MikeJohnson as speaker pic.twitter.com/2qLXwycnlw
— WorldNetDaily (@worldnetdaily) December 29, 2024
According to Comer, with no declared opponents for Johnson’s speakership, initiating a new election would be impractical and unwelcome. He’s urging his colleagues to close ranks behind Johnson to stave off any unnecessary turmoil. But, of course, that’s easier said than done when some members of the House seem determined to play a game of political chicken with the party’s leadership.
Rep. Mike Lawler of New York didn’t mince words, reflecting on the previous speakership crisis as “the single stupidest thing I’ve ever seen in politics.” He made it clear that any refusal to reelect Johnson would be equally foolish. Lawler believes that the dissenters are dangerously close to igniting a disaster and insisting that those who fantasize about securing a more conservative speaker are simply deluding themselves.
The hot seat for Johnson got even warmer following the recent government shutdown scare, with hard-line conservatives leaning towards holding back their votes. Rep. Thomas Massie from Kentucky has emerged as one of the more vocal critics. He draws parallels between Johnson and former Speaker Paul Ryan, pointing out the pitfalls of “fake” commitments to conservative principles. Massie’s resolve is clear: if Trump doesn’t intervene, he’s poised to be a no-show for Johnson’s reelection, adamant that history won’t grant another “do-over” for this party.
With the battle lines drawn, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the GOP. The party stands divided, and whether a Trump-led intervention can smooth things over remains uncertain. The clock is ticking, and one can only hope they figure it out before America’s next speaker is elected—because nobody wants to see a rerun of the circus that was the last speakership crisis.
