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 short 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 won the 218 votes needed for re-election, while Democratic Party leader Hakeem Jeffries received 215 votes.

Previously, up to 3 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 of whom initially voted for other candidates before switching to Mr Johnson, and six who refused to vote on the first ballot.

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 just 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, Republicans now officially control both houses of Congress and can begin laying the groundwork for the Trump administration's second-term agenda.

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