Donald Trump lends support to embattled Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson
- The ex-US president expressed disapproval of hardline congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s threat to oust Johnson in a rift over Ukraine aid
- The appearance with Trump at Mar-a-Lago could give Johnson a boost as he struggles to quell rebellions from his own party lawmakers
Donald Trump threw his support behind embattled US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday, seeking to demonstrate unity as Johnson struggles to quell dissent within his fractious Republican majority.
“He’s doing a really good job under very tough circumstances,” Trump said at a press conference with Johnson at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Johnson gained the speaker’s gavel in a weeks-long October nominating battle after a handful of House Republican hardliners orchestrated the ousting of his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, a historic first.
Another party hardliner, congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, has threatened to make a similar move against Johnson if he allows a vote on more aid for Ukraine as it struggles to fight off a Russian invasion. Greene had also voiced opposition to a surveillance bill the House passed on Friday.
Trump referred to Greene as a friend but expressed clear disapproval of her threat to oust Johnson.