Speaker Mike Johnson begs Donald Trump not to poach any more Cabinet nominees from the House of Representatives.
Republicans officially won control of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, giving them control of the minimum 218 seats needed to maintain a majority.
Although their majority is already under threat – and not by the Democrats.
The president-elect has already brought in several high-profile Republican members of the House of Representatives to fill the many positions in his future administration.
Trump has already nominated Reps. Elise Stefanik of New York as ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz of Florida as national security adviser and Matt Gaetz of Florida as attorney general.
As it stands, Republicans have won 218 seats compared to Democrats’ 209 seats in the next Congress that will convene in January 2025. There are still eight House races without results.
“It’s a big problem to have,” Johnson optimistically told Fox News. “We have an embarrassment of riches in the Republican Congress.”
“Many talented people who align very well with the America First agenda, and who can also serve the country well in other capacities.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson begged Trump to give him “some relief” after the president-elect plucked three Republicans from the narrow Republican majority in the House of Representatives
Trump selected Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., to become his national security adviser
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., was chosen by Trump as the next ambassador to the U.N
“But I’ve told President Trump enough, give me some relief,” Johnson revealed. ‘I must maintain this majority.’
If Trump decides to hire even more Republican members, the speaker’s grip on power will weaken significantly.
Each member the president-elect brings in strengthens the Democrats’ hand in the House of Representatives by forcing special elections to replace the outgoing members.
Many states also have differences in how they administer special elections, meaning the timing of when they might occur could impact critical votes.
Gaetz resigned his Florida seat immediately after being nominated for AG, Johnson told reporters on Wednesday, and the speaker hoped Florida could hold elections in early January and get a replacement for Washington.
Johnson said Trump fully understands his predicament.
“He understands that we obviously talk about it almost every hour,” Johnson said.
Republicans “will have a majority,” he added.
President-elect Donald Trump, joined on stage by House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, addresses House Republicans on Wednesday
Trump greets his friend Stefanik on stage at the House GOP event
Trump selected former Rep. Matt Gaetz as his next attorney general
The Republican Party is expected to control between 220 and 222 seats next year. That would give them only a handful of votes to work with in passing crucial legislation.
And Johnson even said this week that every vote matters.
“Every vote counts because if someone gets sick, has a car accident or has a late flight on their plane, it affects the votes in the House,” Johnson said on Tuesday.