House Speaker Mike Johnson works so closely with the president that the White House refers to him as a co-POTUS, the Louisiana Republican claims. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment. Part of the closeness may come from the fact that Johnson is presiding over a historically slim GOP majority, one plagued by internal divisions and often more beholden to the president than the House leader.
In June, it was reported that President Trump joked that he has two jobs: “Being president and being speaker.” The GOP caucus has repeatedly challenged Johnson. In July, a handful of Republicans joined Democrats to vote for a resolution seeking to stop the president’s war in Iran, a month after far-right Republicans blocked a defense policy bill in an effort to advance Trump’s stalled voting restrictions package and forced the House to go into an early recess. This summer, the House also failed to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a key U.S. intelligence program.
The string of issues came after a handful of GOP rebels bucked Johnson and the president last year to force the administration to release the Epstein files. In addition to difficulties within the House, Johnson and his fellow Republicans face the challenge of winning over voters this fall in the face of an unpopular war and high fuel prices. It’s the lowest approval rating of his second term, and it matches his first term nadir as well.
Breaking with the president, however, could be just as risky as sticking with his unpopular priorities. President Trump has shown a willingness to battle his own party-mates and endorse primary challengers against GOP stalwarts, as he did in Texas and Louisiana. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
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