MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mike Johnson becomes new Speaker of US House of Representatives

“We want our allies around the world to know that this body of lawmakers is reporting again to our duty stations,” said Johnson with the ongoing Middle East crisis in mind

Republican Congressman Mike Johnson of Lousiana was sworn in Wednesday as the 56th Speaker of the US House of Representatives after seemingly endless weeks of internal squabbling among his party's lawmakers.

With 220 votes in favor, the 51-year-old representative from Louisiana won the post left by Kevin McCarthy last Oct. 3, when members of his own party voted in favor of his removal. Johnson's choice is a victory for hardline Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump as well as a defeat for the moderates, whose candidates failed to win enough support after 22 days of bargaining. “My strong suggestion is to go with the leading candidate, Mike Johnson, and get it done fast,” Trump wrote on social media early Wednesday.

A lawyer and former radio host, Johnson has been a lawmaker since 2016. He was chairman of the ultraconservative Republican Study Committee, a post often seen as a first step toward leadership positions within the party. He has spoken out against issues such as abortion rights or same-sex marriage, which analysts fear might hinder future negotiations with Democrats. Johnson is also against giving more economic support to Ukraine.

In 2020, Johnson was a key figure in efforts to legally challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election. He encouraged Trump to “keep fighting” and “exhaust all available legal remedies.”

Following his election, Johnson announced he would push for a “long overdue” bill in support of Israel. “We're in a time of extraordinary crisis right now,” Johnson said. “Our country demands strong leadership from his House,” he added.

“We want our allies around the world to know that this body of lawmakers is reporting again to our duty stations,” he went on.

“Let the enemies of freedom around the world hear us loud and clear, the people's house is back in business,” he stressed.