Sen. Mike LeeR-Utah, predicted that House Speaker Mike Johnson would not retain the gavel next year and called for either Elon Musk or Vivek Ramaswamy to take the leadership role.
“I don’t think the speaker is going to stay in power,” Lee predicted during an appearance Thursday night “Jesse Watters Primetime.”
The senator further said that if he is right, the next speaker should be a “DOGE speaker,” a reference to the Department of Government Efficiency. President-elect Donald Trump tapped Musk and Ramaswamy to lead efforts to advocate for reductions in government spending.
“Vivek, Elon, if you’re watching, please sign up, America needs you,” Lee said.
Trump-backed spending bill to avert government shutdown fails vote in House of Representatives
Sen Mike Lee, R-Utah, speaks during a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump at the Findlay Toyota Center on October 13, 2024 in Prescott Valley, Arizona. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
In a post Thursday morning on X, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., floated the idea of making Musk speaker of the House.
“Nothing would upset the swamp more than the election of Elon Musk… think about it… nothing is impossible. (not to mention the joy of seeing the collective establishment aka ‘one-party’ lose its much-loved mind)” Paul posted on Thursday morning.
This week, faced with the threat of a partial government shutdown, Conservatives railed against a 1,547-page government spending measure championed by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
President-elect Trump Vice President-elect JD Vance also weighed in, saying in a statement: “Republicans want to support our farmers, pay for disaster relief and prepare our country for success in 2025. The only way to achieve this is through temporary funding. “Bill WITHOUT DEMOCRATIC GIVEAWAYS combined with an increase in the debt ceiling.”
Ahead of a vote Thursday in which 38 House Republicans and most Democrats rejected a revised proposal with a much smaller page count, Trump criticized Rep. Chip Roy, R-Tx., claiming that lawmakers were “standing in the way, as usual.” “. , to win another big Republican victory – all to give themselves cheap publicity.
“Weak and ineffective people like Chip must be dismissed as completely ignorant of the way of politics and how to make America great again,” Trump claimed in a Truth Social post.
Trump-backed spending bill goes down in flames as shutdown looms
President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a news conference at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 16, 2024. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Lee praised Roy after Trump disparaged the Lone Star State legislature.
“There is no more staunch supporter of conservative politics, constitutionally limited government or MAGA principles than @ChipRoyTX,” Lee said in a post on “If there is a more committed defender of the Constitution today, I have not met that person.”
Roy gave a fiery speech before Thursday’s vote, sharply criticizing the new version of the spending proposal and the Republicans supporting it.
“Yes, I think this bill is in some ways better than yesterday,” Roy noted, adding that there is no point in “congratulating yourself because it has fewer pages but adds $5 trillion to the debt.” .”
Roy said he was “disgusted at a party that advocates fiscal responsibility and has the audacity” to claim the proposal is “fiscally responsible. This is absolutely ridiculous,” he claimed.
Sen. PaulR-Ky., reposted an excerpt from Roy’s speech and commented: “We’re either fiscally conservative or we’re not. An indefinite increase in the debt ceiling for two years is not fiscally conservative and should be rejected.”
MASSIE CLEARS UP AGAINST JOHNSON KEEPING SPEAKER’S HAMMER: ‘HE DON’T HAVE MY VOICE’
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Tx., speaks to the media after the House of Representatives failed to pass a government funding bill at the U.S. Capitol on December 19, 2024 in Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
In a post on
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who like Roy voted against passage of the spending proposal on Thursday, suggested that instead of voting on an omnibus measure, there should be multiple measures voted on individually.
“It’s not complicated. Separate the bills and vote on them individually. One voice on clean CR, one voice on the debt limit, one voice on disaster relief, one voice on agricultural bailouts. Radical right? Individual bills for each issue,” he posted .
Lee agreed with him.
“Separate the bills,” he wrote. “Vote on it individually,” he added. “Revolutionary!”
