Johnson avoids government shutdown but faces growing pressure from the right

House conservatives pressure speaker Mike Johnson It comes after a week of tough negotiations and infighting over a government spending bill.

According to Politico, Johnson, who narrowly avoided a government shutdown, now faces strict scrutiny within his party ahead of a speakership vote in two weeks.

Louisiana Republicans caught between president-elect Donald Trump, Muskthe right wing of his party and many in his conference are dissatisfied with his leadership.

Some members have vowed to oppose him, and others have openly questioned his leadership, especially in the wake of the contentious spending battle.

The conflict over the spending bill put Johnson at odds with several key figures, including Trump, who publicly criticized the funding plan before Johnson changed tack.

Critics, including members of the Freedom Caucus, expressed frustration with a lack of communication and poor handling of the bill. represent. Nicole Mariotakis Politico added that the moderate Republican (R-N.Y.) called the leadership’s behavior “completely unacceptable” and said there was “zero communication” between leadership and members.

Also Read: Senate averts shutdown with last-minute deal amid Trump’s debt ceiling demands

Others, such as Rep. Andy Biggs (Ariz.) have vowed to wait until Jan. 3 to announce how they will vote for Johnson as speaker, reflecting uncertainty about his future in the role.

Johnson did succeed in getting the spending bill passed with relatively few defections, but the damage to his credibility could be long-lasting.

The incident has become a test of his ability to manage a heated Republican conference, especially as the party hopes to push ambitious border and energy legislation early in the new Congress.

For many Republicans, Johnson’s handling of the crisis will set the tone for his future leadership.

Some members believe Johnson still has a chance to rebuild support, although the challenges remain daunting. Johnson could face a leadership challenge if things don’t improve, with the likes of Jim Jordan and Tom Emmer mentioned as potential replacements.

Despite the turmoil, Johnson does have some allies, especially within the House Freedom Caucus, who appreciate his fight to implement Trump’s agenda.

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