Newt Gingrich Makes Prediction About Whether Mike Johnson Will Keep His Job As Speaker

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich on Friday predicted that Speaker of the House Mike Johnson will retain his position despite backlash from those within his own party over his efforts to pass a continuing resolution (CR) before Christmas.

Sources on Capitol Hill, including lawmakers and staff, told the Daily Caller on Thursday that Johnson may have jeopardized his role with his poorly-received initial bill. However, Gingrich, on journalist Mark Halperin’s “The Morning Meeting,” pointed to the absence of a clear replacement for Johnson and his working relationship with President-elect Donald Trump as key factors in his ability to hold on to the Speaker’s gavel.

WATCH:

📺 Embedded media — coming soon

“I think the odds are better than even he’ll stay as speaker because … look, I was fired after four years. Boehner quit in disgust. Ryan quit, McCarthy was fired by the caucus,” Gingrich said. “It’s a tough job, but I think you look around and say, ‘So who’s gonna replace him?’ Johnson is doing the best he can in an almost impossible situation and he’s learning how to work with Trump. Trump wants him to bring up the debt ceiling. He brings it up. Now I think he also has to offload on Trump. ‘Find me the last 20 votes. I’ll do everything you want. I can’t find the last 20 votes.’”

Trump on Thursday