Newt Gingrich comes to defense of Speaker Johnson

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich arrived at the Capitol Friday afternoon for the 30-year anniversary of the Contract With America, the landmark Republican agenda. In the 1994 election, Gingrich and Republican candidates from across the country signed a physical document, a symbolic contract pledging to deliver on their campaign promises to the American people. That year, Republicans picked up 54 congressional seats, flipping control of the chamber for the first time in 40 years.

In Friday’s remarks, Gingrich came to the defense of the current House speaker, Mike Johnson, R-La., who faces a tight election on Nov. 5 to retain the chamber’s current four-seat Republican majority He also faces a packed lame-duck session immediately after.

“I could never do what Mike Johnson is doing,” Gingrich said. “I can lead a charge. We had a large majority. … But when there are at least 14 Republicans who wake up every morning and say, ‘I’m voting no. What’s the topic?’ it’s almost impossible. I really admire his calm.”

To defeat votes put forward by Johnson and other party leaders, Republicans have voted with Democrats 11 times in the 118th Congress. Often detractors in the GOP have been some of the most conservative members of Congress.

Congress went on recess last week without answers to many of its topline priorities. Although lawmakers avoided a partial government shutdown that would have kicked in on Monday, they have extended last year’s funding levels through Dec. 20, setting up another spending fight just days ahead of Christmas. Aside from spending, Congress must also work on the Farm Bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, and legislation to regulate digital assets.

Johnson will likely need the help from Democrats to pass those legislative priorities, but compromising to do so could cost him his job.

Why are Gingrich’s comments noteworthy? Johnson faces steep odds to remain speaker after the November elections. The most conservative factions in the House believe he hasn’t done much to trim spending or advance other conservative policy priorities—complaints also made of his predecessor, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

McCarthy was removed when eight Republicans voted with Democrats to strip him of the gavel last October. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., triggered that vote soon after the speaker advanced a short-term spending package that failed to cut spending. With Johnson now having repeated a similar act, many like Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., have called for him to face a similar fate.

Massie told WORLD earlier this month that he believes the only way that Johnson survives in the role is if former President Donald Trump endorses him.

While Gingrich’s vote of confidence isn’t on the same level as Trump’s, Gingrich’s storied legacy as a Republican banner-bearer gives Johnson an ally among the party’s most conservative figures. Presently, he has few.

Dig deeper: I report on a new leader among the most conservative Republican bloc in the House. Who is he—and what does his voting record say about his potential leadership?