SPECIAL: President-elect Donald Trump told Fox News Digital that House Speaker Mike Johnson “will easily remain speaker” for the next Congress if he “takes firm and tough action” and removes “all the traps set by Democrats” in the spending package.
Fox News Digital spoke exclusively with the president-elect on Thursday morning, just hours after a bipartisan deal to avoid a government shutdown was killed.
“Anyone who supports a bill that doesn't care about the Democrat sandbox known as the debt ceiling needs to be organized and thrown out as soon as possible,” Trump told Fox News Digital.
Vice President-elect JD Vance met with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Wednesday night. The two discussed a possible solution for about an hour. Vance said the two had a “productive discussion,” and said he believes they “will be able to resolve some issues here” and will continue to “work on it.”
US House Speaker Mike Johnson shakes hands with President-elect Trump on stage at the House Republicans Conference at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill Nov. 13, 2024, Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The impasse over efforts to pass legislation to prevent a government shutdown puts the upcoming speaker election on hold, as Johnson has struggled to keep the party fully united.
But the president-elect told Fox News Digital that Johnson will “maintain” his role as speaker.
“If the speaker works hard, and is tough, and removes all the traps set by the Democrats, it will destroy our country economically, in some ways, he will easily remain the speaker,” Trump said. Fox News Digital.
The speaker vote is set for January 3, 2025.
Until now 1,547 page bill is set to be a short-term extension of the federal budget (FY) 2024, intended to give lawmakers more time to agree on the remaining funds for FY 2025 by Friday's deadline.
In addition to supporting the government on March 14, the bill included more than $100 billion in disaster relief to help Americans affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene. It also included $10 billion in economic relief for farmers, as well as measures to improve health care and a provision aimed at rehabilitating RFK Stadium in Washington, DC and its nearby campus.
The bill also proposes a pay raise for members of Congress.
Members of the House Freedom Caucus said they felt blindsided by what they saw as unrelated policymakers being added to the bill in last-minute negotiations.
Several GOP lawmakers, who spoke on condition of anonymity to speak, said Johnson would face challenges in his proposed speech in early January on the issue.
This is an ongoing story. Please check back for updates.