Speaker Mike Johnson Is Trying To Save His Job As A New Congress Convenes

The new Congress convenes Friday with one major task at hand - the election of the House speaker .

But current Speaker Mike Johnson's weak grip on the gavel threatens not only his own survival but President-elect Donald Trump's ambitious agenda of tax cuts and mass deportations as Republicans sweep to power in Washington.

With opposition from his own GOP colleagues, Johnson was holed up in the Capitol on the eve of the vote, working to sway the hardline holdouts . A flop by Johnson could throw Monday's congressional certification of Trump's 2024 election victory into turmoil without a House speaker. Even backing from Trump himself, usually a sure bet for Republicans, is no guarantee Johnson will stay in power.

"I think he's banking a lot on people liking him," said Sarah Binder, a professor of political science at George Washington University.

"But you know I think we're still down to: What does he need to give away in order to get the speakership? And then how long can he keep it?"