Mr. Mike Johnson was re-elected as Speaker of the US House of Representatives, President-elect Trump immediately expressed satisfaction.

Voting to elect the Speaker is the first important business in the House of Representatives when the new 119th US Congress opens on January 3, taking place even before the members of the House are sworn in.

Mr. Mike Johnson was re-elected as Speaker of the US House of Representatives. (Source: Getty Images)

On January 3 local time (morning of January 4 Hanoi time), Republican Congressman Mike Johnson, representing Louisiana, was re-elected as Speaker of the 119th US House of Representatives in a lengthy vote that revealed persistent divisions within the party.

Despite President-elect Donald Trump’s endorsement, Johnson faces some obstacles as the Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, 219-215 seats over the Democrats, the smallest majority in nearly 100 years. To win the top seat in Congress, a candidate must win more than 50% of the vote.

Initially, Mr Johnson appeared to fall short of the majority needed to win re-election, but eventually won with 218 votes - the minimum number needed - after his two Republican opponents, Reps. Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Keith Self of Texas, switched their support to him after more than half an hour of negotiations.

Before the vote, Mr. Johnson posted on the social network X, promising to set up a working group on spending, reforming the government and a number of other commitments - moves that appeared to convince undecided Republicans in the House.

After Mr. Johnson was re-elected as Speaker of the House, Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, representing New York State, the House Minority Leader, called on members of both parties to unite for common work.

“It is time for us to come together, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans, to work for the people,” Jeffries said, declaring that House Democrats would seek to find common ground with Republicans “on any issue, anytime, anywhere.”

The vote for speaker is the first major business of the House of Representatives when the new 119th Congress opens on January 3, even before the House members are sworn in. It is seen as an early test of the Republican Party’s ability to unite in pushing President-elect Trump’s agenda of tax cuts and border control, and also a test of his influence on Capitol Hill, as a handful of Republicans have shown a willingness to challenge the 47th boss of the White House.

In a related development, later on January 3, Mr. Trump congratulated Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson on being re-elected as Speaker of the US House of Representatives, saying that this victory signaled a bright future for the United States.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ong-mike-johnson-tai-dac-cu-chu-tich-ha-vien-my-tong-thong-dac-cu-trump-lap-tuc-bay-to-hai-long-299660.html