The House speakership drama reached a fever pitch, and in classic Republican fashion, it had all the makings of a political soap opera. Leading the charge of opposition was Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a man who’s never been shy about bucking the system—or making headlines with colorful metaphors. Appearing on Matt Gaetz’s One America News Network show, Massie gave a performance worthy of an Emmy.
“You can pull all my fingernails out, shove bamboo in them, start cutting off my fingers—I am not voting for Mike Johnson tomorrow,” he declared, as though auditioning for the next season of 24. His fiery statement underscored just how deep the rift runs within the GOP, particularly among the hardline conservatives who love a good leadership fight almost as much as they love tax cuts.
I’m a “Hell No” on re-electing Mike Johnson to serve as Speaker of the House. I joined @FmrRepMattGaetz on @OANN to discuss my opposition.
President Trump’s agenda needs to become law. Speaker Johnson has already demonstrated he is not the man who can get that done. pic.twitter.com/JfVoCSNqDy
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) January 3, 2025
Massie wasn’t standing alone in his defiance, of course. The House Freedom Caucus, the ideological purity squad of the Republican Party, had its fingerprints all over the dissent. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, added fuel to the fire, hinting at his own grievances and aspirations—namely, his interest in chairing the powerful House Rules Committee. Nothing says “team player” like holding leadership hostage for a committee seat.
Meanwhile, the clock was ticking, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher. The certification of President-elect Trump’s victory loomed just days away, with Republicans painfully aware that dragging out this speakership circus could jeopardize their ability to manage even the basics of governance. Johnson’s allies made no bones about it: this needed to be resolved and fast.
Enter Trump, master of last-minute endorsements and all-caps proclamations. In true Trumpian fashion, he took to Truth Social to throw his weight behind Johnson, calling him “a fine man of great ability” and hyping up the historic importance of the upcoming legislative session. Whether you see it as savvy political timing or the art of the Hail Mary pass, Trump’s nod seemed to shift the winds in Johnson’s favor.
News:
President Trump‘s endorsement was heard and America agreed.
Mike Johnson is officially the Speaker of the 119th Congress.
Congratulations Mike Johnson, don’t let President Trump down and don’t let America down! pic.twitter.com/tOYJ3EDbsy
— Tom Homan – Border Czar Commentary and Updates (@TomHoman_) January 3, 2025
Johnson himself struck a unifying tone—well, as unifying as you can get in today’s GOP. Thanking Trump on X (formerly Twitter, but who’s keeping track?), he urged Republicans to rally around the America First agenda and get to work. The message was clear: less infighting, more legislating. Easier said than done when half your caucus seems to enjoy a good leadership brawl more than a functioning House.
Ultimately, Johnson secured the gavel after weeks of closed-door wrangling, backroom deals, and public drama that felt more like House of Cards than the House of Representatives. His rise to Speaker follows the spectacular ouster of Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., a three-week saga that left the chamber in chaos and the GOP looking like a family reunion where nobody gets along.
Now, the real test begins. Can Johnson navigate the minefield of GOP factions, from the pragmatists to the purists? Or will his tenure be defined by the same intra-party warfare that toppled his predecessor? One thing’s for sure: Republicans have proven they’re excellent at fighting—unfortunately, it’s often with each other. Stay tuned.
