House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., narrowly held onto the gavel in a nail-biter vote on Friday. (Tom Williams)
GOP REBELS SWITCH VOTE TO JOHNSON AFTER TRUMP’S 11TH HOUR CALLS, PUSHING HIM OVER THE FINISH LINE
Trump then got on the phone with both Norman and Self and urged them to switch their vote for Johnson, both congressmen confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Two people who spoke with Fox News Digital said Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., connected Trump with Self and Norman by phone after they voted against Johnson.
Mace would not comment, but Fox News Digital saw her and Johnson share a hug on the House floor after they and others were in the side room with the holdouts.
Mace was also seen in intense talks with Norman off the House floor earlier.
Massie was irreconcilable — he'd long had his mind made up that Johnson was not the right person for the job. But Johnson could only afford to lose one vote and hold on to the gavel.
Johnson, too, huddled with Self and Norman. House leaders did not formally end the vote while figuring out a path forward.
Norman and Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, switched their voting after talking with both Johnson and President-elect Trump. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
About an hour after voting for others, the pair of defectors switched their votes, granting Johnson his wish.
Self said he switched his vote in order to help further "the Trump agenda."
MIKE JOHNSON RE-ELECTED HOUSE SPEAKER AS GOP MUTINY THREAT DISSOLVES
"The Trump agenda is most important. Trump agenda is most important, and we need to shore up processes in the House to make sure we have the strongest negotiating team for the reconciliation package that will come. So again, this was all about making the Trump agenda more successful," said Self.
Norman said he spoke with Trump, but was ultimately persuaded to change his mind due to the promises he got from Johnson to make "real change."
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Trump "just made his point about how Mike is the only one who could get elected," Norman said.
He said Johnson didn’t offer him a quid pro quo but "a commitment that things are going to change."
Fox News' Liz Elkind contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mike-johnson-elected-speaker-votes-top-three-moments