Former President Jimmy Carter's body was brought to the District of Columbia on Tuesday afternoon and will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol before a state funeral set for Thursday across town at the Washington National Cathedral.

Carter died Sunday, Dec. 29, at 100 years old. His death came just over a year after the death of his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter. 

Carter’s ceremonial arrival at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda came after the start of six days of funeral ceremonies that began Saturday morning in the 39th president's hometown of Plains, Georgia.

Carter's casket was greeted at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, D.C., on Tuesday by the U.S. Air Force Band playing "Abide with Me." From Andrews, a hearse took Carter's casket to the U.S. Navy Memorial for a brief ceremony. Carter, a Naval Academy alumnus, served as a submarine officer before leaving the Navy to take over his family's farm.

At the Navy Memorial, the casket was transferred to a horse-drawn caisson for a procession up Pennsylvania Avenue to the U.S. Capitol.

Vice President Harris delivered a eulogy at the Capitol's lying-in-state ceremony and was joined by second gentleman Doug Emhoff in presenting a memorial wreath on behalf of the executive branch of the government.

The U.S. Capitol ceremony on Tuesday featured remarks from both House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., representing their respective houses of Congress.

THE PRESIDENT WHO COULDN'T QUIT: JIMMY CARTER'S FOREIGN POLICY LEGACY GOES BEYOND WHITE HOUSE

Johnson praised Carter in his speech as an "extraordinary man" and applauded both his service in the military and his work for charitable causes such as Habitat for Humanity and The Carter Center, the latter founded in 1982 by the former first couple.

"I'm reminded of his admonition to quote, 'Live our lives as though Christ were coming this afternoon,'" Johnson remarked on Tuesday. "And of his amazing personal reflection, 'If I have one life and one chance to make it count for something.'"

"We all agree that he certainly did," he concluded. "So today, in these hallowed halls of our republic, we honor President Carter, his family and his enduring legacy that he leaves not only upon this nation but upon the world."

JIMMY CARTER, PIONEER OF THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT

Johnson announced last month that Carter would lie in state in a letter to Carter's second-eldest son, James Carter III.

"In recognition of President Carter’s long and distinguished service to the nation, it is our intention to ask the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate to permit his remains lie in state in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol," the leaders wrote.

Besides Carter, just 12 presidents have lain in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, the use of which requires approval by both the House and Senate. The last president to lie in state was George H.W. Bush in December 2018. Since 1865, nearly all services held in the Capitol Rotunda have used the catafalque that was constructed in 1865 for displaying President Lincoln's casket.

Members of the public can view Carter’s casket from early Wednesday through early Thursday, when his official state funeral service will be held at the Washington National Cathedral. 

The former president will be honored and remembered through several days of funeral services before returning to his hometown for private funeral and interment ceremonies. He will be laid to rest by his wife.

A Republican senator was expressing his unhappiness to Susie Wiles, the incoming White House chief of staff.

"I texted you three days ago," the lawmaker said.

Wiles, who ran President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign, said she got it and would respond, without sounding like she was in a rush.

There’s little doubt that her phone must be flooded with messages from people who want a job – or influence – in the incoming Trump administration.

DONALD TRUMP’S TOUGH TALK—BUY GREENLAND! TAKE BACK PANAMA CANAL!—SPARKS DEFIANCE FROM MANY REPUBLICAN REBELS

But the jockeying sheds light on a dilemma that Trump may face in a city that he controls, with both houses of Congress under Republican management (and Vice President Kamala Harris peacefully certifying the transfer of power yesterday, four years to the day after the Capitol riot).

The flip side of nearly unlimited clout is that when things go wrong, there’s no one else to blame.

And then there’s the black hole known as Congress. Having dragged Mike Johnson across the finish line in the election for speaker, by making calls even from his golf course, Trump now faces a dilemma after the Christmas debt ceiling battle that just delayed the budget fight until March.

Using a process known as reconciliation, which lowers the threshold from 60 Senate votes to 51 – both parties have used this for party-line dominance – Trump favors "one big beautiful bill." That would include budget cuts, energy deregulation, tax cuts, the border crackdown and other presidential priorities.

But many on the Hill support two separate bills, and some in Trump World believe Congress simply doesn’t have the bandwidth to take the kitchen-sink approach.

So the big beautiful bill might not get passed until June, depriving the 47th president of an early win. 

TRUMP MAKES A BLIZZARD OF NEWS, SHOWS RESTRAINT AT PRESSER, EVEN WHILE SLAMMING THE MEDIA

Johnson will have just a 1-vote margin, making it hard for him to deliver the deep spending cuts that the hardliners want in an echo of the battle that toppled Kevin McCarthy.

In the meantime, the Homeland Security Department would have difficulty mounting a major initiative because, like other agencies, it’s operating on the stopgap spending budget that nearly shut down the government at Christmas.

The risk of pushing two bills is that once the first one passes, the momentum may dissipate for approving a second measure, even if it contains such Trump priorities as tax cuts.

Trump hedged his bets yesterday, telling radio host Hugh Hewitt, "I would prefer one, but…I’m open to either way, as long as we get something passed as quickly as possible."

Washington is a city obsessed with titles and perceived influence, and that will impact the way the White House is run.

Wiles has helped downgrade some jobs that have always been assistant to the president titles to deputy assistant to the president–something no sane outsider would care about, but which is a major deal for the insiders. That’s because after reaching the limit for assistant jobs, the only alternative was to create a bunch of deputy slots.

Wiles, for her part, has told Axios, "I don't welcome people who want to work solo or be a star… My team and I will not tolerate backbiting, second-guessing inappropriately, or drama. These are counterproductive to the mission."

Karoline Leavitt, the incoming press secretary, is also being deprived of the big office that has been used by her predecessors for at least three decades. That’s going to another communications aide.

I can remember being in that second-floor office when Mike McCurry was press secretary, and President Bill Clinton walking in and chatting while I was working on my book "Spin Cycle." The reason for the large office was the gaggles taking place with the press, and sometimes interviews, which could not be accommodated by most smallish West Wing offices.

Anyone in Wiles’ sensitive position would invariably upset some officials during a process that determines winners and losers. But Trump views her as a grandmother and doesn’t yell at her the way he might at other officials over a disagreement. 

As for Elon Musk’s powerful role, Trump enjoys the company of wealthy people, and the X owner is the richest person on the planet. So he has influence until he doesn’t, if there is a future falling out. 

MUSK RENEWS HARSH REBUKE OF DEMS WHO REJECTED DEPORTING SEX OFFENDERS: VOTE OUT ‘EVERY ONE’

Besides, it will be harder for Musk to hang around once Trump moves from Mar-a-Lago to the White House, unless he wants to give Elon the Lincoln Bedroom.

For now, the transition is organized chaos. But as Trump knows all too well, having done this job before, when there’s a terror attack or border incident or rising grocery prices on his watch, he owns it.

Meanwhile, with with Harris certifying her own defeat in routine fashion yesterday – drawing live coverage considering the history of Jan. 6 – President-elect Trump posted this:

"Biden is doing everything possible to make the TRANSITION as difficult as  possible, from Lawfare such as has never been seen before, to costly and ridiculous Executive Orders on the Green New Scam and other money wasting Hoaxes. Fear not, these ‘Orders’ will all be terminated shortly, and we will become a Nation of Common Sense and Strength. MAGA!!!"

Is that worse than what happened on Jan. 6, 202?

SUBSCRIBE TO HOWIE'S MEDIA BUZZMETER PODCAST, A RIFF ON THE DAY'S HOTTEST STORIES

It’s true that the outgoing president has, among other things, issued orders to stop oil exploration along 625 million acres offshore, but there’s no reason the "drill, baby, drill" president can’t reverse that, although it could slow him down.

Harris gave a short talk yesterday about the peaceful transfer of power, and Biden made the case in a Washington Post op-ed that we must never forget what happened on that dark day.

No matter who you agree with, I think it’s fair to say that issue was litigated in the election, and Americans voted to put Trump back in the White House knowing full well what happened during the televised riot.

President-elect Donald Trump is urging congressional Republicans to send him "one powerful Bill" as swiftly as possible once he takes office later this month.

Republicans hold the majority in both chambers of Congress and later this month will regain the White House when Trump is sworn in on Jan. 20.

"Members of Congress are getting to work on one powerful Bill that will bring our Country back, and make it greater than ever before. We must Secure our Border, Unleash American Energy, and Renew the Trump Tax Cuts, which were the largest in History, but we will make it even better - NO TAX ON TIPS," Trump declared in a post on Truth Social.

SPEAKER JOHNSON REVEALS HOW TRUMP WANTS CONGRESS TO HANDLE BUSINESS DURING THE FIRST HUNDRED DAYS

"IT WILL ALL BE MADE UP WITH TARIFFS, AND MUCH MORE, FROM COUNTRIES THAT HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE U.S. FOR YEARS. Republicans must unite, and quickly deliver these Historic Victories for the American People. Get smart, tough, and send the Bill to my desk to sign as soon as possible," Trump urged.

House Speaker Mike Johnson had noted during an appearance on Fox News Channel's "Sunday Morning Futures" that he thinks Trump will "prefer, as he likes to say, one big, beautiful bill."

Johnson, who described it as "One big up or down vote which can save the country," noted that he thinks the measure, which will tackle various issues, will also address the debt ceiling.

MIKE JOHNSON RE-ELECTED HOUSE SPEAKER AS GOP MUTINY THREAT DISSOLVES

He indicated that lawmakers are aiming to hold the House vote during the first week of April — the lawmaker said it could potentially clear the chamber as soon as April 3, then head to the Senate, and eventually arrive on Trump's desk by the end of April, or by Memorial Day in a "worst case scenario." 

Johnson retained the speaker's gavel last week after Trump backed him. House Republicans, with the exception of Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., voted for Johnson to remain in the role he has occupied since late October 2023. Two Republicans who initially did not vote for Johnson, ultimately switched their votes to Johnson, handing him the win.

GOP REBELS SWITCH VOTE TO JOHNSON AFTER TRUMP'S 11TH HOUR CALLS, PUSHING HIM OVER THE FINISH LINE

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, has warned that the U.S. "Senate will be one of the biggest barriers to cutting spending and shrinking government," and "will need public pressure." 

He added the hashtag "#DOGE," referring to the Department of Government Efficiency, an outside of government effort to advocate for decreased government spending, which is being spearheaded by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich, who led Republicans to their first House majority in four decades in 1994, said Saturday the House Freedom Caucus should recall how his own caucus led conservatives to power within the party.

Gingrich tweeted that he and other conservatives had developed "positive action principles" in 1983 as part of what they called the Conservative Opportunity Society.

"[Those] led 11 years later to the Contract with America and the first GOP House Majority in 40 years."

"If the Freedom Caucus would study them, they could be dramatically more effective," Gingrich said, going on to cite and agree with a sentiment from political reporter Mark Halperin’s "Wide World of News" newsletter.

"[T]he Freedom Caucus is a bunch of rebels with a series of causes but no coherent path to achieving said causes," Halperin wrote.

In the 1980s, although Ronald Reagan was in the White House, Boston Democratic Speaker Tip O’Neill wielded strong control of the House. O’Neill and Reagan had a notably friendly but ideologically disparate relationship.

Coinciding with the early days of C-SPAN televising live floor proceedings, Gingrich would often take to the well of the House in the late-night hours and address conservatives’ issues to a mostly empty chamber but with a captive audience on the new TV format.

GINGRICH BLASTS HARRIS' ‘RAMBLING’ SPEECHES

Gingrich biographer Craig Shirley told Fox News Digital on Saturday that the Freedom Caucus should study the work of their comparative predecessor, the Conservative Opportunity Society, as well as the path Gingrich led from a low-profile congressman to speaker.

"I guess the word brilliant is thrown around so, so cavalierly. So let me just say, it was extremely smart politics to make the case for conservative governance," Shirley said of Gingrich’s work in the 1980s and 1990s.

"Reagan had already blazed that path eight years before Gingrich did."

While critics say the GOP has shifted hard to the right on some issues and softened on others, Shirley said it’s essentially the same as it was during Gingrich’s rise.

"Less government, more freedom, less taxes, strong national defense, pro-life."

Former Rep. Vin Weber, R-Minn., another top member of Gingrich’s conservative group, said in a PBS interview that there have not been too many groups like the Conservative Opportunity Society (or the Freedom Caucus, which hadn’t been formed at the time of the interview) and that there was the same issue with apprehension over angering their party leaders.

Weber said there had been a few small intra-caucus conservative groups prior to the Reagan era, including one in the 1960s led by then-Rep. Donald Rumsfeld, R-Ill. – who would go on to serve as Pentagon chief two times.

On the last day of the 1982 session, Gingrich approached Weber and asked, "What are you doing next year and for the next 10 years after that?." 

"I thought that was interesting and I said, ‘I expect to be back here, but nothing special other than that,’" Weber recalled. 

"What he was saying was that he, as one person, was not being effective…. He identified me in the [GOP] conference as somebody [who] had been supportive of his point of view and maybe had some ability to organize things," Weber said.

MIKE JOHNSON RE-ELECTED HOUSE SPEAKER

Shirley said the current Freedom Caucus has the rare opportunity to achieve their goals if they play their cards right, with full Republican control of Washington.

"They don't have a ‘contract,’ but they have the next best thing there. They have a core set of issues and an ideology that they can easily follow," he said, adding that "no one should ever doubt" Speaker Mike Johnson’s commitment to "Reaganite" principles.

In additional comments to Fox News’ "Hannity," Gingrich said the one-round vote Friday was a "great victory" for Johnson, R-La.

"[He’s] just a decent, hardworking, intelligent human being.… I could not have been the kind of speaker he is. I don't have the patience. I don't have that ability to just keep moving forward. It's really very extraordinary."

Meanwhile, Freedom Caucus member Ralph Norman, R-S.C., told Fox News the group met with Johnson earlier and that he "just didn't come away with the feeling that the ‘umph’ or the willingness to fight for Trump's agenda was there."

"And I use as a backdrop what’s happened the last 14 months, we had 1500-page omni-bills that you couldn’t read – where you had no spending cuts to offset $100 billion in new spending."

"And I know we had a slim majority, but that's over with now. What we wanted to impress with [Johnson] yesterday was, are you going to fight for these things that we've been asking for, like a balanced budget? Like offsets? Like getting behind all of the Trump agenda?"

Norman, along with Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, initially did not vote for Johnson, which would have set up a second round of speaker votes.

But, Norman told "The Story" that that action was the "only way to let my voice be heard."

He said Johnson "gave his word" to fight for the things he mentioned to Fox News, and that agreement, plus a message from Trump that Johnson was the only speaker candidate with support in the caucus, guided his decision to ultimately support the Louisianan.

In a "Dear Colleague" letter released Friday, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., and his members expressed several policy points that Johnson should commit to in order to "reverse the damage of the Biden-Harris administration," as well as achieve long-standing conservative goals.

The letter indicated they had voted for Johnson because of their "steadfast support" of Trump and ensuring the Jan. 6 elector certification can run smoothly.

"We did this despite our sincere reservations regarding the Speaker’s track record over the past 15 months."

The caucus called for Johnson to modify the House calendar so its schedule is as busy as the Senate’s, ensure reconciliation legislation reduces spending and deficits in "real terms," and halt violations of the "72-hour-rule" for debate on amendments to bills.

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They also demanded Johnson not rely on Democrats to pass legislation that a majority of his own caucus won’t support.

In comments on "The Story," Norman said he believes Johnson now understands – through the initial silence of several Republicans during the first roll call and his and Self’s initial non-Johnson-vote – that he will have to work to consider the conservative bloc’s demands.

While the high-stakes fight to lead the House of Representatives is over, Speaker Mike Johnson’s politically perilous year is just beginning.

Winning the speaker’s gavel was no easy feat considering Johnson, R-La., had no Democratic support and could only lose one fellow Republican, thanks to the House GOP’s razor-thin majority.

All House Republicans except for Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., voted for Johnson on Friday afternoon. Two GOP lawmakers who had initially voted for someone other than Johnson, Reps. Keith Self, R-Texas, and Ralph Norman, R-S.C., were eventually persuaded to switch their votes after speaking with Johnson and President-elect Trump.

Johnson will have to navigate a similarly slim margin over the next few months as he helps carry out what President-elect Donald Trump promised would be a very active first 100 days of his new administration.

REPUBLICANS GIVE DETAILS FROM CLOSED-DOOR MEETINGS WITH DOGE'S MUSK, RAMASWAMY

"There’s a lot of expectations and potential pitfalls," Marc Short, who served as director of legislative affairs during the first Trump administration, told Fox News Digital in an interview late last month. 

Just the first half of 2025 alone is expected to see at least three separate fiscal fights.

Johnson, meanwhile, is set to lose two House Republicans – Reps. Elise Stefanik of New York and Mike Waltz of Florida. Both members are joining the Trump administration at the end of this month.

It will reduce his House GOP majority to just 217 seats, compared to 215 for Democrats, which means Republicans will need to vote in lock-step to pass any bills on a party-line vote. 

Special elections to replace Waltz and retired Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., are set for April. An election to replace Stefanik has not yet been set.

Meanwhile, Republicans are gunning to pass two massive conservative policy and spending overhauls via a process called "reconciliation," which lowers the threshold for passage in the Senate from 60 votes to a simple majority for certain budgetary issues.

Both Republicans and Democrats have tried to use reconciliation to pass significant fiscal policy changes that the other side normally opposes, meaning it takes extraordinary levels of intra-party cooperation in both the House and Senate.

"There’s huge expectations on budget reconciliation, and that’s really hard, even when you’ve got wide margins. To think you’re going to do it twice in a year with those margins, I think is an enormously high expectation that seems to be unreasonable," Short told Fox News Digital.

"And add onto that another funding bill in three months, plus a debt ceiling fight."

Along with reconciliation bills – which are unlikely to get much, if any, Democratic support – Republicans will also have to grapple with the government funding deadline they just punted to March 14.

DANIEL PENNY TO BE TAPPED FOR CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL BY HOUSE GOP LAWMAKER

House and Senate lawmakers passed a short-term extension of fiscal year (FY) 2024’s government funding levels in December to give negotiators more time to hash out the rest of FY 2025.

Congress will risk plunging the government into a partial shutdown if the House and Senate does not pass another funding extension or set new priorities for the remainder of FY 2025 by then.

The next government funding deadline will come at the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.

That’s not all Johnson will have to focus on during those months, however.

A bipartisan agreement struck in 2023 suspended the U.S. debt limit through January 2025 – after which the Treasury Department will be forced to take "extraordinary measures" to avoid a national credit default.

The debt limit refers to how much debt the U.S. government can accrue while making expenditures it has already committed to. As of Christmas Eve, the national debt — which measures what the U.S. owes its creditors — fell to $36,161,621,015,445.57, according to the latest numbers published by the Treasury Department. 

Raising the debt limit is also traditionally a fraught political battle, with both Republicans and Democrats seeking any possible leverage to attach their own policy goals to the negotiations.

A recent model produced by the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) projects the Treasury’s "extraordinary measures" will carry the U.S. through mid-June or earlier, giving Congress potentially six months to act.

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., initially voted for Jim Jordan for speaker of the House Friday, but President-elect Trump was able to convince him to change his vote — while working on his golf game.

Norman was one of three Republicans who initially refused to vote for Mike Johnson to retain his role.

While speaking to reporters Friday, Norman said Trump had called him more than once to try to influence his vote on the speaker. 

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In Trump's first phone call to Norman, Trump was hitting the links.

"He said, ‘Look, I’m in the middle of a golf game.' That was the first time I talked to him," Norman said, via MediaIte.

"He said, ‘Well, you did vote for Nikki Haley.’ I said, ‘Yes, sir, I did. We’re with you now.' And I said, 'We will be with Mike Johnson.'"

Trump owns numerous golf courses, one of which was the site of a second assassination attempt on his life in the summer. Trump's USGA handicap was once as low as a 2.5, and he claims to have recorded eight holes-in-one.

Trump also spoke with Keith Self, R-Texas, on the phone in an effort to sway Self's vote, sources told Fox News Digital.

Self confirmed to reporters he had spoken with Trump by phone multiple times Friday.

"I talked to him a couple of times today," Self said. "We had a lively discussion."

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., connected Trump with Self and Norman by phone after they voted against Johnson, the sources said.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER HAS SURGERY AFTER INJURING HAND WITH BROKEN GLASS, WILL MISS FIRST SIGNATURE EVENT OF 2025

Johnson won the House speakership in the first round of voting, after it initially appeared he might lose.

Self, Norman and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., each voted for lawmakers other than Johnson, appearing to put the speaker's gavel out of reach.

But House leaders did not formally close the vote while figuring out a path forward. GOP lawmakers were told to be on the House floor immediately in preparation for a second vote.

That second vote did not occur, however, and Johnson was sworn in as speaker Friday afternoon.

Fox News' Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., narrowly held onto the gavel in a nail-biter vote on Friday afternoon. 

Republicans eager to swear in President-elect Trump later this month and capitalize on their control of the House, Senate and White House avoided the same fate of the past two drawn-out speaker elections. 

After some wrangling by both Trump and Johnson, ultimately Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was the lone Republican to defy leadership and vote against Johnson. 

Here’s a look at the top moments of the first vote of the 119th Congress:

Johnson appeared to be on a path to defeat when five Republicans sat silently as their clerk called their names for a vote. Three others — Republican Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Keith Self of Texas — voted against Johnson. 

Massie voted for House Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn.; Norman voted for Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; and Self voted for Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla. 

At the end of the vote, the names of those who refused to vote on first mention were called again. Reps. Andy Harris, R-Md.; Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.; Andrew Clyde, R-Ga.; Michael Cloud, R-Texas; and Chip Roy, R-Texas, ultimately voted for Johnson. 

GOP REBELS SWITCH VOTE TO JOHNSON AFTER TRUMP’S 11TH HOUR CALLS, PUSHING HIM OVER THE FINISH LINE

Trump then got on the phone with both Norman and Self and urged them to switch their vote for Johnson, both congressmen confirmed to Fox News Digital. 

Two people who spoke with Fox News Digital said Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., connected Trump with Self and Norman by phone after they voted against Johnson.

Mace would not comment, but Fox News Digital saw her and Johnson share a hug on the House floor after they and others were in the side room with the holdouts.

Mace was also seen in intense talks with Norman off the House floor earlier.

Massie was irreconcilable — he'd long had his mind made up that Johnson was not the right person for the job. But Johnson could only afford to lose one vote and hold on to the gavel.

Johnson, too, huddled with Self and Norman. House leaders did not formally end the vote while figuring out a path forward.

About an hour after voting for others, the pair of defectors switched their votes, granting Johnson his wish. 

Self said he switched his vote in order to help further "the Trump agenda." 

MIKE JOHNSON RE-ELECTED HOUSE SPEAKER AS GOP MUTINY THREAT DISSOLVES

"The Trump agenda is most important. Trump agenda is most important, and we need to shore up processes in the House to make sure we have the strongest negotiating team for the reconciliation package that will come. So again, this was all about making the Trump agenda more successful," said Self. 

Norman said he spoke with Trump, but was ultimately persuaded to change his mind due to the promises he got from Johnson to make "real change." 

Trump "just made his point about how Mike is the only one who could get elected," Norman said. 

He said Johnson didn’t offer him a quid pro quo but "a commitment that things are going to change." 

Fox News' Liz Elkind contributed to this report. 

The House of Representatives has adopted new rules that would make it harder to trigger a vote to oust a speaker.

House lawmakers voted 215-209 along party lines to set the chamber's rules for the 119th Congress. 

Among them was a measure to raise the threshold for calling a "motion to vacate the chair" – which sets off a House-wide vote to depose the sitting speaker. 

Ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., agreed to lower the threshold to just one person in order to win over holdouts and clinch the speaker's gavel in January 2023, at the start of the 118th Congress.

But the 119th Congress is now raising that number from one to nine – and amending the rule further, to specify that nine members of the sitting majority party must be the ones to call for a vote.

JOHNSON BLASTS DEM ACCUSATIONS HE VOWED TO END OBAMACARE AS 'DISHONEST'

It sparked fury among Democrats, who accused Republicans of eroding the significance of the minority party.

"Their proposed changes would, for the first time in American history, shield the Speaker from accountability to the entire chamber by making it so that only Republicans can move to oust the speaker," said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee. 

"This makes it clear that they have no intention of working together to find common ground. Instead of electing a Speaker of the House, they have decided to elect a Speaker of the Republican Conference—held hostage by their most extreme members."

REPUBLICANS GIVE DETAILS FROM CLOSED-DOOR MEETINGS WITH DOGE'S MUSK, RAMASWAMY

McCarthy was notably ousted by eight House Republicans and all House Democrats after former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., called for a motion to vacate the chair in October 2023.

The one-vote threshold hung over Johnson like the sword of Damocles for over a year after he won the speaker's gavel later that same month.

The change is the product of negotiations between the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus and the more pragmatic Republican Main Street Caucus.

Other changes in the new House Republican rules package include substituting some non-gendered family language like "child" and "parent" to more gendered language like son, daughter, mother, and father.

It also limits the House Speaker's ability to bypass traditional chamber processes to rush a bill to the House floor via a mechanism known as "suspension of the rules."

Johnson's use of the suspension measure to pass critical legislation with Democratic support angered GOP hardliners in the House GOP Conference.

Under the new package, Johnson will only be able to put a House bill up for a vote under suspension on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Democratic lawmakers had mixed reactions to Republican Rep. Mike Johnson being re-elected as speaker of the House for the 119th Congress.

Lawmakers gathered on Capitol Hill Friday to vote for a speaker before the new Congress commenced. Johnson won the speaker race during the first round of voting, but not all GOP lawmakers were originally in support of his candidacy. 

During the first round, three Republicans voted for candidates other than Johnson. However, after a short meeting in the GOP cloakroom with Johnson, Republican holdouts Ralph Norman and Keith Self changed their vote for the first round, securing the speakership for Johnson.

While it remained uncertain whether the Republican holdouts would change their votes, Democrats began reacting on social media. 

MIKE JOHNSON RE-ELECTED HOUSE SPEAKER AS GOP MUTINY THREAT DISSOLVES

"The GOP Civil War is in full swing. And it’s only Day 1," House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries wrote in a post on X shortly before two of the GOP holdouts changed their votes.

"Welp, it only took a few minutes for the GOP to run this train right off its tracks — not voting for their own Speaker of the House," Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., said in a post on social media. "Was hoping we could leave the dysfunction in 2024 and work for the American people! But we’re headed to a round two of Speaker votes."

But the sentiment changed after Johnson won the gavel in just one round. One Democrat credited Johnson for securing the speakership in a single vote after it took Republican lawmakers four days to elect a speaker in January 2023.

GOP REBELS SWITCH VOTE TO JOHNSON AFTER TRUMP'S 11TH HOUR CALLS, PUSHING HIM OVER THE FINISH LINE

"To his credit Mike Johnson learned from the 15 round debacle of 2 years ago. Instead of trying to jam his conference with a quick second round he held the vote open while some backroom arm twisting & hand wringing took place. The result: 2 changed vote, enough to win the gavel," Rep. Hank Johnson, R-Ga., said.

"This fight is over, but keep your popcorn close."

"Hell has frozen over (literally - it’s snowing in DC)! With just one vote, we have a Speaker - for now!" Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas., said on X.

Democratic Rep. Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky said, "now that we have a Speaker, let’s get to work."

After Johnson won the speakership vote, other Democrats congratulated him.

"Congratulations to Mike Johnson on earning re-election as Speaker of the House," Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., posted on social media. "There are several vetted, bipartisan bills in the docket that he could immediately bring to the floor to help Americans: afford housing, pay for Rx drugs, secure the border."

Democratic lawmakers voted unanimously for Representative-elect Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

"215 @HouseDemocrats stand united behind our Leader @RepJeffries. First round. Every round," Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., said in a post on X after the vote.

Republicans in the House of Representatives cheered the re-election of Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., during the first round of votes Friday, after successfully avoiding the lengthy speaker vote process former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., endured ahead of the 118th Congress in early 2023.

"Congratulations to my friend @SpeakerJohnson! We’re fired up and ready to work with President Trump to Make America Great Again!" House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., wrote on X after the successful vote. 

Johnson was elected to serve as speaker again by a vote of 218-215-1, with Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., the only Republican who opposed Johnson's election. 

'LIVES DEPEND ON IT': REPUBLICANS PUSH FOR PROMPT TRUMP CONFIRMATIONS IN WAKE OF NEW ORLEANS ATTACK

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said on X: "Congratulations to @SpeakerJohnson on his re-election to lead our conference through the 119th Congress. Under his leadership, House Republicans are ready to work with President @realDonaldTrump to fix our economy, secure our borders, unleash American energy, and lower taxes for hardworking families. The American people are counting on us, and the @HouseGOP will deliver."

Initially, it looked like Johnson would fall short of the necessary votes to be elected on the first ballot after Republican representatives Keith Self of Texas and Ralph Norman of South Carolina first voted for different candidates. However, the two ultimately switched their votes for Johnson before the tally was officially closed. 

Several Republicans pointed out their ability to get it done on the first ballot after it took 15 ballots in 2023 to elect McCarthy. 

MIKE JOHNSON GETS PUBLIC GOP SENATE SUPPORT AHEAD OF TIGHT HOUSE SPEAKER VOTE

"Victory on the first ballot. As the Chairwoman of the unified House Republican Conference, I can say proudly, that we are ready to govern," House GOP conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain, R-Mich., said on X. 

In his own post, Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., wrote, "First day. First ballot. Time to get to work on behalf of the American people."

While Johnson was able to win re-election on the first ballot, it didn't come without significant uncertainty. A number of Republicans, including members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, did not initially cast votes when their names were called, putting Johnson's speakership at risk. 

HEALTHY LIVING, PARTY UNITY, AND 'TIME TO SMELL THE ROSES': CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS' NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

Reps. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.; Michael Cloud, R-Texas; Andrew Clyde, R-Ga.; Paul Gosar, R-Ariz.; House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md.; Chip Roy, R-Texas; and Mike Waltz, R-Fla., did not vote at first during the roll call. 

After the initial roll call, each of the representatives voted in favor of Johnson, to the surprise of some. 

"Today, we voted for Mike Johnson for Speaker of the House because of our steadfast support of President Trump and to ensure the timely certification of his electors," Harris wrote on X afterward.

Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., a member and former chairman of the HFC, said on X, "While I maintain my reservations about Speaker Johnson’s leadership record, today I voted in support of President Trump’s Agenda.

BERNIE SANDERS PLANS TO SPEARHEAD LEGISLATION ON KEY TRUMP PROPOSAL

"We will hold Speaker Johnson accountable to accomplish the Republican Agenda. He must: - Secure our southern border - Institute commonsense House rules - Cut unbridled federal spending - Eliminate harmful and costly regulations - Reverse insane Biden policies like Green New Deal handouts - Implement a Congressional stock trade ban. We have a mandate from the American People. These policies are necessary to save our Country."

"Congratulations, @SpeakerJohnson. I look forward to working with you to accomplish the legislative goals of President Trump in the coming days," Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., another HFC member, wrote on X.

U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett protested the nonvoting status of the Virgin Islands and other U.S. territories Friday— sparking mixed reactions after she accused the U.S. in House floor remarks of having a "colonies problem."

The exchange occurred after Plaskett, a Democrat, stood after the first roll call vote to note what she said was a parliamentary inquiry.

Plaskett then asked the House clerk why she and other delegates from the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia were not asked to participate in the House speaker vote.

Combined, she noted that the delegates excluded represent some four million Americans and what she said was "the largest per capita of veterans in this country."

Speaking over Republican cries of "order!" that could be heard in the background, the House clerk then explained to Plaskett that delegates-elect and the resident commissioner-elect are not qualified to vote in the House speaker election.

"Representatives-elect are the only individuals qualified to vote in the election of a speaker, as provided in Section 36 of the House Rules and Manual," the clerk said.

That response prompted an impassioned response from Plaskett. "This body, and this nation, has a territories and a colonies problem," she said, prompting some Democrats to give a standing ovation.

Republicans, for their part, began booing.

"What was supposed to be temporary has now effectively become permanent," she said. "We must do something about this problem."

Her mic appeared to have been cut off shortly thereafter.

Plaskett has served as a non-voting delegate to the U.S. Virgin Islands since 2015, during which time the chamber has voted to elect seven separate House speakers. 

• Republicans nearly unanimously reelected Mike Johnson as speaker of the House.
• It avoids what could've been an early embarrassment for Trump and the GOP.
• After winning, Johnson pledged to "drastically cut back the size and scope of government."

In a stunning turn of events on Friday, Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana was reelected as speaker of the House on the first ballot, avoiding what could have been an early embarrassment for Republicans ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.

It didn't come without some trouble.

Three House Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, and Keith Self of Texas — initially voted for candidates other than Johnson to serve as speaker, denying him the 218-vote majority necessary to win. Several other Republicans withheld their votes until the end of the roll call, though they ultimately voted for Johnson.

Republicans held the vote open as Johnson met with Norman and Self, and after 45 minutes, both men switched their votes — allowing him to clinch the speakership on the first ballot.

"Is the preference to have it sail through? Yes," Norman told BI in a brief interview before voting began on Friday. "We'll see how it goes."

It wasn't immediately clear as of publication how Johnson had regained the two lawmakers' support. Massie, an idiosyncratic libertarian, was the sole Republican who did not switch his vote to Johnson.

Before the vote, Johnson wrote a lengthy post on X in which he pledged to create a "working group comprised of independent experts" to work with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy's "Department of Government Efficiency," or DOGE, to implement spending cuts. He also requested committees undertake "aggressive" reviews of government spending.

Republicans avoided an early embarrassment

Johnson's problem wasn't Trump — the president-elect endorsed him earlier this week. The speaker-to-be also had the support of Musk, who caused trouble for Johnson last month by helping to tank a government funding bill.

Instead, it was a group of hardline Republicans, many of whom are part of the House Freedom Caucus. Ahead of the vote, several of them had signaled their dissatisfaction with Johnson, particularly his frequent reliance on Democrats to pass major government funding bills and his decision in April of last year to allow more than $60 billion in Ukraine aid to pass the House.

With all but a handful of Republicans pledging to support the incoming speaker, it appeared that long-festering wounds within the conference — some of which were ripped open when Kevin McCarthy was deposed as speaker last year — might be reopened.

"I have a feeling some folks wake up in the morning to see what confusion and chaos they can cause every day," Republican Rep. Greg Murphy of North Carolina told BI.

Trump and his allies argued that GOP unity was crucial for enacting the party's agenda, which includes passing major bills to address border security, immigration, and energy policy, raising the debt ceiling, extending the Trump tax cuts, funding the government, and eventually pursuing sweeping cuts to federal spending at the recommendation of DOGE.

"We're going to protect our industries from one-sided trade deals, and we're going to bring overseas investments back to American shores," Johnson said in a speech after claiming the gavel. "We'll defeat the harmful effects of inflation, and we'll make life affordable again for America's hard-working people."

Johnson also made a nod toward DOGE, saying that Congress would "drastically cut back the size and scope of government."

"In coordination with President Trump and his administration, we are going to create a leaner, faster, and more efficient federal workforce," Johnson said. "We need to do that."

'It's their responsibility to govern'

Despite avoiding a complete mess on Friday, Republicans will face plenty of challenges enacting the legislative pieces of Trump's 100-day agenda.

For one, Republicans will have a one-vote majority until at least April, when special elections will be held to fill vacancies caused by Trump's appointments and former Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida's decision to leave the House.

The GOP is expected to try to ram through at least one party-line bill, using the special procedural power known as budget reconciliation, which allows them to pass bills through the Senate without the usual 60-vote requirement.

Republicans aren't entirely in agreement on how they'll use it. Senate Majority Leader John Thune wants to move two separate bills, one devoted to border security and defense spending and another later in the year that would extend Trump's tax cuts. Meanwhile, some House Republicans, particularly Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Smith, want the party to move only one massive bill.

To further complicate matters, reconciliation bills should only deal with fiscal matters, and it remains to be seen what immigration-related policies would be allowed.

Beyond their ambitious policy goals, Republicans will also have to raise or suspend the debt ceiling or risk default likely sometime later this summer. Many conservatives have ideological reservations about raising the debt ceiling and have historically voted against doing so. Last month, Trump unsuccessfully sought to pressure Republicans to raise the debt ceiling before he took office.

There's also the question of how Republicans will carry out more basic tasks, including funding the government. Over the last two years, Johnson has frequently relied on Democratic votes to pass major funding bills.

"They're in the majority, and it's their responsibility to govern," Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts told BI. "It's not my responsibility to bail them out every time they have a problem."

Despite all of these challenges, Norman — one of the original Johnson holdouts — told BI he wasn't worried about his party's agenda, pointing to the fact that his party would soon control both chambers of Congress and the presidency.

"We've got so many things to be thankful for, and to be happy about, and I am," Norman said.

President-elect Trump appears to have helped Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., avoid a messy, drawn-out fight to lead the House of Representatives.

Trump spoke by phone with both Reps. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., and Keith Self, R-Texas, after they had initially voted for people other than Johnson for speaker, two knowledgeable sources told Fox News Digital.

Self and Norman were seen disappearing into a side room with Johnson and others after the roll call vote was complete, but before the vote was formally closed. 

They emerged minutes later and announced they would both vote for Johnson – cementing the Louisiana Republican's victory.

JOHNSON BLASTS DEM ACCUSATIONS HE VOWED TO END OBAMACARE AS 'DISHONEST'

Self then confirmed to reporters that he had spoken with Trump by phone multiple times on Friday.

"I talked to him a couple of times today," Self said. "We had a lively discussion."

Self did not elaborate much further on the contents of the discussion.

But the two people who spoke with Fox News Digital said Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., connected Trump with Self and Norman by phone after they voted against Johnson.

REPUBLICANS GIVE DETAILS FROM CLOSED-DOOR MEETINGS WITH DOGE'S MUSK, RAMASWAMY

Mace would not comment, but Fox News Digital saw her and Johnson share a hug on the House floor after they and others were in the side room with the holdouts.

She was also seen in intense talks with Norman off the House floor earlier.

Norman also later confirmed to reporters that he spoke with Trump on Friday.

"He just made his point about how Mike is the only one who could get elected," Norman said, adding that Trump did not change his vote but rather a "commitment that things are gonna change" from Johnson.

Johnson won the House speakership in the first round of voting, after it initially appeared he was poised to lose.

Self, Norman and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., each voted for people other than Johnson, appearing to put the speaker's gavel out of reach.

But House leaders did not formally close the vote while figuring out a path forward. Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers were told to be on the House floor immediately in preparation for a second vote.

That second vote did not occur, however, and Johnson was sworn in as speaker on Friday afternoon.

FIRST ON FOX: President-elect Trump reacted to Mike Johnson’s re-election as speaker of the House, telling Fox News Digital the process brought House Republicans "even closer together," and said it is a continuation of "Make America Great Again."

Johnson was re-elected speaker of the House Friday. 

Sources told Fox News Digital that the president-elect was in "constant communication" with House Republicans throughout the process. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Trump said it was "a great honor to have helped." 

MIKE JOHNSON RE-ELECTED HOUSE SPEAKER AS GOP MUTINY THREAT DISSOLVES

"It is all a great continuation of ‘Make America Great Again,’" Trump said.

"Mike Johnson will do a fabulous job as speaker," Trump said. "House Republican membership was fantastic."

"This process has brought them even closer together," he said. "It is all a reflection of the great presidential election of 2024 where we won all seven swing states, the popular vote and everything else there is to win."

"We will all be working together with total benefit going to the people of our nation," he said. "Our country will be run with strength and common sense again."

He added: "America is back."

Johnson won along party lines during the first round of voting, a stark contrast to his predecessor’s drawn-out, 15-round battle in 2023.

Johnson's allies warned in return that a prolonged House speaker fight could delay Congress' joint session to certify President-elect Trump's victory, slated for Monday.

Johnson also had a key backer in Trump, who first emphasized his support for the GOP leader last month in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, and throughout the process. 

"Good luck today for Speaker Mike Johnson, a fine man of great ability, who is very close to having 100% support. A win for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party, and yet another acknowledgment of our 129 year most consequential Presidential Election!!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social app.

Johnson wrote on X in response, "Thank you, President Trump! Today is a new day in America. Congressional Republicans must stay united to quickly deliver President Trump’s America First agenda. Let’s get it done."

Johnson's victory marks the start of his first full term as speaker. Johnson won the gavel in October 2023 after three weeks of closed-door talks following the ouster of ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

Speaker-designate Mike Johnson, R-La., was re-elected to lead the House of Representatives on Friday.

The Louisiana Republican won along party lines during the first round of voting, a stark contrast to his predecessor’s drawn-out, 15-round battle in 2023.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was the only Republican to vote against Johnson in the end, after Reps. Keith Self, R-Texas and Ralph Norman, R-S.C., initially voted for someone else but then switched their support to the Republican leader.

It comes despite saber-rattling by some conservatives who threatened to withhold support from Johnson in protest of his handling of government funding and several other issues in the 118th Congress.

TRUMP GIVES JOHNSON 'COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT' AHEAD OF SPEAKERSHIP FIGHT

Massie, R-Ky., who was part of an unsuccessful push to oust Johnson last year, was the speaker-designate’s most vocal critic leading up to the Friday vote.

He told former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., on his new One America News Network program, "You can pull all my fingernails out, you can shove bamboo up in them, you can start cutting off my fingers."

"I am not voting for Mike Johnson tomorrow, and you can take that to the bank," Massie said. 

JOHNSON BLASTS DEM ACCUSATIONS HE VOWED TO END OBAMACARE AS 'DISHONEST'

Other detractors included members of the House Freedom Caucus like Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who has expressed interest in chairing the influential House Rules Committee, the panel that directs terms for House-wide votes on legislation.

Johnson's allies warned in return that a prolonged House speaker fight could delay Congress' joint session to certify President-elect Trump's victory, slated for Monday.

But Roy ended up supporting Johnson, as did the vast majority of GOP lawmakers. 

Johnson's future appeared uncertain at one point on Friday afternoon when three House Republicans voted for someone other than him for speaker, putting the gavel seemingly out of reach.

But Johnson then huddled with Self and Norman, along with other lawmakers, behind closed doors before the vote was called to an end. Both later emerged and switched their votes to support Johnson.

Two sources told Fox News Digital that Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., helped facilitate phone calls with both holdouts during that time. 

Both confirmed they spoke with Trump but did not give details of the calls.

Trump also emphasized his support for the GOP leader hours before the midday vote.

"Good luck today for Speaker Mike Johnson, a fine man of great ability, who is very close to having 100% support. A win for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party, and yet another acknowledgment of our 129 year most consequential Presidential Election!!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social app.

Johnson wrote on X in response, "Thank you, President Trump! Today is a new day in America. Congressional Republicans must stay united to quickly deliver President Trump’s America First agenda. Let’s get it done."

His victory marks the start of his first full term as speaker. Johnson won the gavel in October 2023 after three weeks of closed-door talks following the ouster of ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who unsuccessfully sought to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson from the speakership last year, said that she will vote on Friday for Johnson to retain the gavel.

Last year, the congresswoman lambasted Johnson as "the Uniparty Speaker," asserting that he "is exactly what is wrong with the Republican establishment" and had "done nothing for conservatives and given everything to Joe Biden and Democrats."

But she now plans to vote on Friday for Johnson to remain in the leadership post.

"Let's put aside our pride, let's put aside our egos, and let's put aside the infighting," she said in a video, adding that it is time for the GOP to join together and "do whatever it takes to make sure that we deliver the mandate that the American people told us to do."

DERRICK VAN ORDEN TARGETS CHIP ROY OVER SPEAKERSHIP VOTE: ‘CHIP IS FIGHTING TO KEEP HIS BRAND MARKETABLE’

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who supported the effort to oust Johnson last year, has declared that he will not support the speaker's bid to remain in the role.

"You can pull all my fingernails out, you can shove bamboo up in them, you can start cutting off my fingers, I am not voting for Mike Johnson tomorrow," Massie declared during an appearance on "The Matt Gaetz Show."

President-elect Donald Trump endorsed Johnson for the job earlier this week.

REP. VICTORIA SPARTZ DEMANDS ‘ASSURANCES’ SPEAKER JOHNSON ‘WON’T SELL US OUT TO THE SWAMP' 

"Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement," Trump declared in a Truth Social post.

Johnson's path to victory is precarious, and could be derailed if another Republican opts to join Massie in opposing Johnson's bid.

Fox News Senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram has explained, "The winning candidate must secure an outright majority of all Members voting for a candidate by name."

MIKE JOHNSON'S SPEAKERSHIP TO BE PUT TO ANOTHER TEST IN 1ST VOTE OF NEW CONGRESS

Pergram described a possible scenario in which just two Republicans could prevent Johnson from reaching the threshold necessary to win. 

"So let’s say there are 434 members and all vote for someone by name. The magic number is 218. If Johnson gets the votes of all 219 Republicans, he wins. If Johnson gets 218 votes, he also wins. But 217? No dice," Pergram noted.

During an interview on Fox Business' "Kudlow," Johnson indicated that he believes he'll win the gavel in the first round of voting and is "hopeful for that." 

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., received public support from Republicans in the Senate as he faces an uncertain vote Friday to determine whether he will maintain the role in the new Congress. 

"My friend [Johnson] has done an incredible job in the House, and I’m glad he’s at the helm there as Congress looks forward to growing our economy and safeguarding our communities in the new year," said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., on X. 

HEALTHY LIVING, PARTY UNITY, AND 'TIME TO SMELL THE ROSES': CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS' NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

Johnson also got the backing of the other member of Lousiana's Senate delegation, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La. "I agree with President Trump that [Johnson] is the right man to lead. He’s a committed conservative and a man of integrity," he wrote on X, referencing President-elect Donald Trump's recent endorsement. 

During the last-minute government-spending fight last month, most Republican senators were careful not to call for Johnson's replacement. However, that didn't stop others, such as Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, from suggesting that someone else would do a better job. 

BERNIE SANDERS PLANS TO SPEARHEAD LEGISLATION ON KEY TRUMP PROPOSAL

"Technically, the rules of the House—I don't think you have to be a member of the House to be speaker. And other people talked about it," Paul told reporters in December. He noted that he has previously gotten stray votes to be speaker, as has Trump.

"And so, we'll leave it open to interpretation. I think that, hey, seriously, Elon Musk is having an impact."

When asked about his confidence in Johnson, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., sidestepped, saying, "I can't make a decision. I don't know him that well. He's got to work with everybody else. He doesn't have to work with us."

DEM SENATOR REVEALS HOW SHE NARROWLY WON KEY STATE THAT TRUMP FLIPPED: ‘BE PRACTICAL TO FIND RESULTS'

Since the House speaker will be selected solely by the lower chamber, few Republican senators are expected to weigh in publicly. But the fact that some have is notable in and of itself. 

In order to be elected as the speaker of the House, a member must get a majority of the votes cast. Depending on whether all House members are there, how many vacancies there are, and whether anyone chooses to vote "present," thereby lowering the majority threshold, Johnson could be in a situation where he can only afford to lose one GOP vote.

There are still several House members that have said they are unsure whether they will back Johnson. 

REPUBLICANS HAMMER BIDEN FOR FEDERAL DEATH ROW REPRIEVES AHEAD OF LEAVING OFFICE

Additionally, at least one Republican lawmaker is a "no," even after Trump's endorsement. 

"I respect and support President Trump, but his endorsement of Mike Johnson is going to work out about as well as his endorsement of Speaker Paul Ryan," Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., wrote on X. "We’ve seen Johnson partner with the democrats to send money to Ukraine, authorize spying on Americans, and blow the budget." 

The speaker vote is set to take place on Friday to set the new Congress in motion. 

Republicans are expected to change House rules and make it more difficult to oust a speaker of the House, just one year after a single GOP lawmaker initiated the first-ever removal of a member from the position.

Former Rep. Kevin McCarthy was elected speaker of the House in January 2023 but was not elected on the first ballot. It took lawmakers four days and 15 votes to finally find consensus and back McCarthy for the position, but the infighting did not stop there.

House rules currently allow for one lawmaker to have the ability to introduce a motion to vacate the speakership and initiate a vote on the floor. So, when former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz introduced a motion to vacate McCarthy from the top House post, a vote was initiated, and enough support resulted in his ousting.

However, House Republicans are seeking to change this rule and make it harder to vacate the chamber's top post in the future.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT RACE FOR SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

McCarthy's ousting led to the chamber being without an official speaker for two months in 2023, raising the question whether one lawmaker alone should be given the ability to introduce such a motion.

Under the new proposed House rules package released on Wednesday, Republicans are seeking to alter the rules to require that a lawmaker obtain eight co-sponsors in order to introduce a motion to vacate the speakership.

HEALTHY LIVING, PARTY UNITY, AND ‘TIME TO SMELL THE ROSES:’ CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS' NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

According to the rule, a member and their co-sponsors must be in the "majority party," meaning that only Republicans, who currently have the majority, hold the power to introduce a vacate motion for the next two years.

The rule was blasted by Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., who said that the proposed changes would "shield the Speaker from accountability to the entire chamber."

"The American people did not vote for whatever the hell this is — and you better believe that Democrats will not let Republicans turn the House of Representatives into a rubber stamp for their extremist policies," McGovern said, according to Axios. 

The proposed rules package is set to be voted on once a speaker is elected and the 119th Congress is gaveled in. The first speaker vote is set to take place this Friday.

Current House Speaker Mike Johnson is seeking re-election for the position. There is currently one GOP member, Rep. Thomas Massie, who said that he would not vote for Johnson. However, the speaker recently received a roaring endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump.

As House Speaker Mike Johnson aims to retain his role, Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wisc., targeted fellow Republican Rep. Chip Roy, R-Tx., who has indicated that he is "undecided" on whether he'll vote for Johnson.

President-elect Donald Trump endorsed Johnson for the job this week, but Roy noted during an appearance on Fox Business that he does not think the speaker will have the votes needed to win during the upcoming Friday vote.

Van Orden asserted in a post on X that Trump "received a mandate from the American people in November," while Roy "did not."

"It is the America First Agenda, not the Chip Roy First Agenda. It is Make America Great Again, not make Chip Roy Great. President Trump is fighting for America, Chip is fighting to keep his brand marketable," Van Orden claimed.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT RACE FOR SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

"Some people apparently need to understand that in order to be a Leader, you have to learn how to follow first. I would love to work with Chip, but he needs to understand he can be part of the Team, but there is no way in hell he is the Captain. The Captain will be moving back into the White House shortly and his 1st Lieutenant is @SpeakerJohnson," Van Orden declared in the post.

Fox News Digital reached out to a Roy spokesperson to request a comment from the congressman.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., has declared that he will not vote for Johnson to remain speaker.

Roy has noted that he is "undecided" on Johnson, but is demanding change.

THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO FAILING TO ELECT A HOUSE SPEAKER QUICKLY

"@RepThomasMassie will not be voting for Hakeem Jefferies, as opposed to GOP who voted with Dems (more Dems than GOP each time) to spend some $3 trillion & give $61bb to Ukraine with no border security," Roy said in a post on X. 

"The reason I am still undecided on the Speaker vote (as opposed to hard no) is it’s not ALL the fault of @SpeakerJohnson & my desire is to give him grace & @realDonaldTrump room to deliver on a strong agenda for which we were elected. But something MUST change," he noted.

Johnson's path to victory is precarious, and he could be derailed if another Republican joins Massie in staunchly opposing Johnson's bid to retain the speakership.

REP. VICTORIA SPARTZ DEMANDS ‘ASSURANCES’ SPEAKER JOHNSON ‘WON’T SELL US OUT TO THE SWAMP'

Fox News Senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram has explained, "The winning candidate must secure an outright majority of all Members voting for a candidate by name."

Pergram described a possible scenario in which just two Republicans could prevent Johnson from reaching the threshold necessary to win. "So let’s say there are 434 members and all vote for someone by name. The magic number is 218. If Johnson gets the votes of all 219 Republicans, he wins. If Johnson gets 218 votes, he also wins. But 217? No dice," Pergram noted.

The House of Representatives will soon vote for a speaker of the House to lead the chamber for the next two years under the incoming Republican administration.

The previous race for the top House post was plagued by infighting among the GOP, who have been unable to easily find consensus on a speaker candidate in recent years. Former Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted as speaker by his Republican colleagues in October 2023, and it took lawmakers several weeks to finally elect their next leader: Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La.

Johnson is running to retain his position in the next Congress but has not yet received support from all of his Republican colleagues. The 2025 vote carries particularly intense pressure as the House must agree on and elect a speaker in order to certify President-elect Donald Trump's election victory just days later.

The House is scheduled to vote on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, at noon, as dictated by the Constitution. 

THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO FAILING TO ELECT A HOUSE SPEAKER QUICKLY

A speaker must be elected before the 119th Congress can be sworn in.

Republicans have the majority in the House for the 119th Congress, so they are in charge of choosing a speaker.

Current House Speaker Mike Johnson is running again as head of the chamber. At this point, no other candidates have thrown their hat into the ring, but in past years, alternatives have been floated during the day of the vote.

Republicans currently hold a slim, four-seat majority in the chamber with 219 seats compared to the Democrats' 215.

The GOP majority is to dwindle even further when two of Trump's Cabinet picks, Reps. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., and Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., assume their roles pending Senate confirmation, which is expected to take place several weeks after the speaker vote.

A candidate for speaker must receive an outright majority to win. Given the number of seats held by the GOP, a Republican candidate would need 218 votes if all 434 members vote.

GOP LAWMAKER ‘FULLY SUPPORTS’ SPEAKER JOHNSON: ‘WE DON’T NEED A PROTRACTED SPEAKERS RACE'

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., recently told reporters he won't vote for Johnson for speaker. 

Another GOP member suggested that he has not yet committed to voting for Johnson: "Right now, I think that Mike has done an admirable job under tough conditions, but I’m going to keep my options open. I want to have a conversation with Mike," Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., told Fox Business' "Mornings with Maria."

House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., recently said Democrats won't bail out Johnson if he does not receive enough GOP votes.

Johnson introduced a government funding bill in early December, but the first proposal failed before it even reached the House floor after opposition from Republican lawmakers and outside Trump allies Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.

A second government funding bill was brought to the House floor, but bipartisan lawmakers voted against the legislation. Johnson introduced a third package, but many of his GOP colleagues didn't support it. While 34 Republicans voted against Johnson's bill, it passed in the House with unanimous Democrat support.

With more than two dozen Republicans breaking with Johnson on the government funding fight, he could face potential pushback against his speaker re-election efforts. Anywhere from four to 10 Republicans could oppose Johnson in the speaker’s race, Fox News' Chad Pergram previously reported.

The vote for speaker will take place on Friday, just three days before Congress is scheduled to certify the results of the Electoral College for Trump.

The House cannot proceed with any official business, such as counting the presidential election votes for Trump, until a speaker is elected and the next Congress is sworn in. In January 2023, it took House Republicans four days and 15 ballots to elect a speaker.

Trump announced he would back Johnson for the position, a pivotal endorsement that could help determine the Louisiana Republican's chances come Friday's vote.

"The American people need IMMEDIATE relief from all of the destructive policies of the last Administration. Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement. MAGA!!!" Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Monday.

Fox News' Chad Pergram contributed to this report.