Before Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) was elected to Speaker of the House on Wednesday, the speakership scramble was in full effect.
Several House GOP members were vying for the job, including Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN), who was thought to be a top contender after the fall of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) last week.
According to the Daily Caller, though he faced opposition from part of the Republican Party, Emmer actually won the nomination for the speakership earlier this week.
But just hours later, the number three House Republican dropped out of the final race.
After Emmer won a secret ballot to become the speaker nominee, he dropped out after pressure from some conservatives, including former President Donald Trump, who slammed the Minnesota lawmaker and pulled his support.
Tom Emmer dropped his bid for House speaker hours after he was nominated. A backlash from the right, including Donald Trump, sank his candidacy. https://t.co/AhAaJG2XNK via @nytimes
— Nino Brodin (@Orgetorix) October 24, 2023
Trump held nothing back in a scathing Truth Social post regarding his thoughts on Emmer, who he labeled a "globalist."
"I have many wonderful friends wanting to be Speaker of the House, and some are truly great Warriors. RINO Tom Emmer, who I do not know well, is not one of them. He never respected the Power of a Trump Endorsement, or the breadth and scope of MAGA—MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!,” Trump wrote.
He added, "He fought me all the way, and actually spent more time defending Ilhan Omar, than he did me—He is totally out-of-touch with Republican Voters. I believe he has now learned his lesson, because he is saying that he is Pro-Trump all the way, but who can ever be sure? Has he only changed because that’s what it takes to win?"
“The Republican Party cannot take that chance, because that’s not where the America First Voters are. Voting for a Globalist RINO like Tom Emmer would be a tragic mistake!”
The aftermath on social media was intense and rapid, as Trump's influencers and high-profile allies rallied to oppose Emmer.
On Wednesday, after yet another shocking secret ballot, Johnson was elected speaker after a full House vote. He came in second to Emmer on the previous vote.
SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON: “I believe that scripture and the Bible is very clear that God is the one that raised up each of you and God has allowed us to be brought here to this specific moment in time.”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 25, 2023
Only time will tell if Johnson is able to hold the party together at such a crucial time.
