As the House speaker election looms, Republican New York Rep. Mike Lawler is making it clear that he fully supports current Speaker Mike Johnson. In a recent interview on ABC News “This Week,” Lawler warned fellow lawmakers that dumping Johnson would be a foolish mistake, stating: “Mike Johnson inherited a disaster… with that said, removing Mike Johnson would equally be as stupid.” He went on to warn that “these folks are playing with fire” and that any attempts to remove Johnson would be “equally stupid.”
Lawler emphasized Johnson’s conservative record, calling him “arguably the most conservative speaker that’s ever been elected to the office.” He praised Johnson for keeping the GOP unified and helping them maintain their majority in the House. Referring to past efforts to remove Johnson, Lawler stated, “I’ll be very clear, as I was during the Kevin McCarthy fight, I’m not going to bend to their will.”
Lawler also addressed concerns that some GOP members have raised about Johnson’s leadership, specifically in regards to his recent introduction of a 1,574-page continuing resolution (CR) that included costly provisions. He dismissed these doubts, stating that fighting over the speaker election would be a “waste of time” and reminding fellow Republicans that Trump has a mandate to govern after their victories in the House and Senate.
The Republican congressman urged his colleagues to focus on important issues like the economy, border security, and foreign affairs disasters left behind by the Biden-Harris administration. He emphasized the need for a strong Republican leader in order to successfully certify President Trump’s election on January 6th.
Lawler also criticized the liberal media for their coverage of the GOP’s internal conflicts, stating that “we absolutely do not need a fight over the speakership.” He emphasized that the focus should be on supporting Trump and his agenda, rather than getting caught up in divisive battles within their own party.
Despite some vocal opposition, Johnson has received support from Trump and other prominent Republicans, including Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. However, the former president has been noticeably silent on Johnson’s reelection bid. The two were recently seen together at the Army-Navy football game, further indicating Trump’s support for Johnson.
As the House speaker election draws near, Lawler’s strong support for Johnson and stern warnings to fellow Republicans are making waves in the media. With his passionate defense of the current speaker and reminders of the Trump administration’s accomplishments, Lawler is sending a clear message: Dumping Mike Johnson would be a huge mistake.