Trump Reportedly Doubts Speaker Mike Johnson’s Leadership Amid The Debt Ceiling Fight [WATCH]

President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly questioning the leadership of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) following a contentious battle over a stopgap measure to prevent a government shutdown.

Johnson, who recently assumed the role of speaker, has faced criticism for his handling of federal spending negotiations and his decision to collaborate with Democrats to pass the measure.

Although Johnson stated that Trump was “certainly happy” with the deal, insider accounts suggest otherwise.

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According to a Politico report, Trump was dissatisfied with the process and the failure to secure the debt ceiling increase he had advocated.

One source close to Trump remarked, “The president is upset — he wanted the debt ceiling dealt with.”

Another insider added, “In the past couple weeks, we’ve questioned whether [Johnson has] been an honest broker.”

Critics within Trump’s circle also voiced concerns about Johnson’s ability to lead effectively. “No one thinks he’s strong. No one says, ‘Damn, this guy’s a fighter,’” one source noted. Another bluntly predicted, “I don’t see how Johnson survives.”

The struggle to push Trump’s agenda during the negotiations has fueled dissatisfaction.

Johnson’s reliance on Democratic votes to pass the measure highlighted divisions within the Republican Party and raised questions about his ability to manage the GOP’s slim majority effectively.

Conservative commentator and former Trump advisor Steve Bannon criticized Johnson, stating, “Clearly, Johnson is not up to the task.”

Similarly, Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) rebuked the speaker, accusing him of pulling Trump into a chaotic process.

Victoria Spartz, serving one of her famous word salads on Fox, blames Mike Johnson for “dragging President Trump into this circus” pic.twitter.com/i0z9vnOHZv

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 20, 2024

She commented, “It’s almost disrespectful, where members, at the last second, have a 1,500-page bill and they expect them all to vote [a certain way].”

Adding to Johnson’s challenges, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) signaled a lack of support from Democrats if Johnson’s leadership were to face a challenge.

Speaking on MSNBC, Jeffries remarked, “There will be no Democrats available to save him or the extreme MAGA Republicans from themselves based on the breaching of a bipartisan agreement.”

Mike Johnson made a backroom deal with Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries to screw America, but now Jeffries says not a single Democrat will vote to rescue Johnson’s speakership.

“There will be no Democrats available to save him or the extreme MAGA Republicans from themselves based… pic.twitter.com/dGduiADNvs

— George (@BehizyTweets) December 24, 2024

The fallout has cast doubt on Johnson’s ability to maintain his role as speaker, particularly with Trump’s reported dissatisfaction.

Johnson’s failure to deliver on key priorities, including the debt ceiling increase, has left Trump’s allies questioning his capacity to lead effectively ahead of Trump’s return to the White House.

Throughout the negotiations, Republicans largely aligned with Trump, even as some conservative lawmakers, such as Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), resisted raising the debt ceiling without significant spending cuts.

However, the GOP’s slim majority in the House and President Joe Biden’s presence in the White House complicated efforts to secure a deal favorable to conservatives.

While Johnson faced significant obstacles, his handling of the negotiations has not inspired confidence among Republicans.

With Trump set to assume office, many in the GOP are calling for stronger leadership in Congress — a quality critics argue Johnson has yet to demonstrate.

The debate over Johnson’s leadership continues to unfold as Republicans assess their strategy heading into the next Congress.

Whether Johnson can weather the storm remains uncertain, but without Trump’s support, his hold on the speaker’s gavel appears increasingly tenuous.

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