'Restore trust in this body': US Republicans elect Mike Johnson as House speaker
The US House of Representatives elected Republican Mike Johnson, a conservative with little leadership experience, as its speaker on Wednesday after a turbulent three weeks that left the rudderless chamber unable to respond to the Middle East crisis or carry out any of its basic duties.
"We will restore trust in this body. We will advance a comprehensive conservative policy agenda, combat the harmful policies of the Biden Administration, and support our allies abroad," Johnson said in a statement shortly after the vote.He is best known as the author of an unsuccessful appeal by 126 House Republicans to get the Supreme Court to overturn election results in states that Trump had lost in the 2020 presidential election.
While his Republicans broadly support funding for Israel and the US border, they are divided over further support for Ukraine.The government posted a record $1.7 trillion deficit for the most recent fiscal year, in part due to higher interest payments. He has supported legislation that bars gender-related surgery and hormone treatment for transgender teens, prohibits mask mandates on airplanes, and tightens immigration and abortion restrictions.
As speaker, Johnson will have to confront the same challenges that felled McCarthy and stymied his would-be successors.