The future of the House Speaker's gavel and the certification of the election results are currently in a precarious position.
This is due to the pressure on House Republicans to swiftly elect the next speaker, despite a small faction within the party threatening the slim majority. The situation has led to calls for President-elect Donald Trump to intervene, as the control of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., hangs in the balance.
According to Fox News, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, "It's a terrible challenge. We've seen it play out over the past two years. It was very difficult for Kevin McCarthy. It's been very difficult for Mike Johnson. It would be very difficult for whomever would be elected speaker of our conference."
Comer, however, highlighted a key difference between the current and previous Congress, stating, "But at the end of the day, the difference between the 119th Congress and the 118th Congress is we'll have a Republican president, a strong Republican president who's very popular with Republican congressmen, constituents back home, and that's Donald Trump."
The situation is particularly challenging for Johnson, as the numbers are not in his favor. If a handful of his Republican colleagues opt to vote for another candidate, he may fail to secure the necessary 218 votes. Fox News senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram explained that this stalemate "paralyzes the House," hindering them from swearing in members, forming committees, and potentially even certifying the results of the 2024 election if the issue persists until Jan. 6.
Pergram further noted that if the House is still grappling with its speakership issue on Jan. 20, when Trump is expected to assume office, the most senior member of the majority party in the Senate, the president pro tempore, could step in as "acting president." This would likely be Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.
Comer, recognizing the potential challenge, urged Trump to take action, saying, "I strongly encourage Donald Trump to get on the phone with those five or six members who won't commit to voting for Mike Johnson because all this is going to do is delay us." He warned that such a delay could impact the certification of Trump's election and the commencement of his first 100 days in office, a crucial period in any presidency. Comer concluded, "That's when you get the most done historically, so I strongly encourage President Trump to get on the phone and try to get everyone united so we can work together as a team and make America great again."
This report includes contributions from Fox News' Chad Pergram.
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