US House Speaker retains seat, Congress goes to Republicans

US House Speaker Mike Johnson almost lost his job after the first vote fell short by two votes, but after a brief meeting, Johnson convinced two dissenters to return to vote for him.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson (right) receives the gavel representing power

Thanks to the support of President-elect Donald Trump, US House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed back the far-right to win his first full two-year term in a vote early this morning (January 4, Vietnam time).

Reuters reported that Mr Johnson, a self-described MAGA (Make America Great Again) conservative, had the 218 votes needed to win re-election, while Democratic Party leader Hakeem Jeffries received 215 votes.

Previously, up to three Republican congressmen did not vote to help Mr. Johnson win re-election, which could threaten to paralyze the House of Representatives because this body cannot operate without its chairman.

The three lawmakers were among nine far-right Republicans. Two initially voted for other candidates before switching to Mr. Johnson, and six others refused to vote in the first round.

The existence of the group of nine people attracted attention because this is the number needed to file a petition to remove the speaker of the House of Representatives under new regulations that were passed on January 3.

At the last minute, only one Republican congressman, Mr. Thomas Massie (representing Kentucky), did not vote for Mr. Johnson.

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With Mr. Johnson's victory, the Republican Party now officially controls both houses of the US Congress , and can begin building the foundation for the agenda of the second term of the Donald Trump administration.

Congress is also poised to certify Mr. Trump's victory in the November 5, 2024 election, which will be held on January 6, which is also the fourth anniversary of the storming of the Capitol during the previous certification.

And Mr. Trump will be sworn in at the Capitol on January 20.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chu-tich-ha-vien-my-giu-duoc-ghe-quoc-hoi-ve-tay-dang-cong-hoa-185250104081634109.htm