Mike Johnson returned to the position of Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday with decisive support from President-elect Donald Trump, ending an internal Republican Party standoff.
Johnson had angered several party members due to his cooperation with Democrats to pass legislation. His victory was secured only after tense backroom negotiations, during which more than a dozen Republicans expressed doubts about his leadership, criticizing the Louisiana representative for his handling of the budget deficit.
At the start of the vote, only three Republicans opposed Johnson, while all 215 Democrats supported their leader, Hakeem Jeffries. Johnson managed to retain the Speaker position by convincing two angry Republicans to change their stance.
Johnson spent much of the week making calls and holding meetings with conservatives who opposed his nomination.
Upon his re-election, Johnson pledged, "We will work to drastically reduce the size and scope of government and return power to the people.
Trump was quick to congratulate his ally on his return to the Speaker position, praising his victory as a sign of a bright future for the country.
He said on social media, "Mike will be a great Speaker of the House, and our country will benefit. The American people have waited four years for common sense, strength, and leadership.
A defeat for Mike Johnson would have been another embarrassment for Trump, whose influence over House Republicans was tested after they rejected his demands to suspend the country's borrowing limit in December.