President-elect Donald Trump called two Republican lawmakers who originally voted against Mike Johnson for speaker on Friday, a move that helped convince the pair to change their votes, giving the Louisiana Republican enough to maintain the gavel, multiple media outlets reported.
Trump spoke with Republican Reps. Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Keith Self of Texas after both cast votes for other lawmakers for speaker. Norman originally voted for Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Self voted for Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla.
However, thanks to a phone call with Trump that Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., helped to arrange and a conversation with Johnson, the pair asked the clerk to change their votes to Johnson, pushing him over the finish line with a vote of 218-215.
True to his word, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., did not vote for Johnson and instead cast his vote for Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn. Massie was the only GOP holddout.
Self said he spoke with Trump "a couple of times" but that Trump did not issue any threats, Punchbowl News reported.
"My sole focus was advancing the Trump agenda. To ensure this, I expressed concerns to Speaker Johnson about fiscal responsibility and holding the line on deficit spending — key priorities for my constituents," Self said in a post on X.
"After receiving firm assurances from the Speaker, that Republicans in the House will have strong representation during the budget reconciliation process — a cornerstone of President Trump's agenda — I changed my initial vote."
Norman said he was connected to Trump through Mace, but that "assurance" from Johnson ultimately drove his decision to flip, Politico reported.
"We just impressed on Mike the seriousness of what he's about to do. Is he gonna fight for financial stops? Is he gonna fight? And that was our whole question. Trump was helpful, but I knew where Trump stood," Norman told Politico.
Trump also called Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, who was one of six Republicans who initially did not cast a ballot during the first call of their name, Punchbowl reported.
Roy, who has had a testy couple of weeks with the president-elect, wanted assurances from Trump that he wouldn't blast him on social media or threaten a primary challenge in 2026, and Trump obliged, according to the report. Trump told Roy he needed to vote for Johnson, which he ultimately did.
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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