GOP rebels switched votes to Johnson after Trump’s 11th-hour phone calls, pushing him to the wire.
President-elect Trump appears to be helping Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., avoid a nasty, drawn-out battle for the leadership of the House of Representatives.
Trump spoke by phone with both Reps. Ralph Norman, RS.C., and Keith Self, R-Texas, after they voted for people without Johnson as speaker, two sources with knowledge told Fox News Digital.
Self and Norman were seen disappearing into the room next to Johnson and others after the voting was completed, but before the vote was officially closed.
They appeared minutes later and announced that they would both vote for Johnson – sealing the victory for the Louisiana Republican.
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Speaker Mike Johnson won re-election to lead the House with the support of President-elect Donald Trump. (AP/Getty)
Self later confirmed to reporters that he had spoken with Trump by phone several times on Friday.
“I talked to him a few times today,” Self said. “We had a good conversation.”
He himself did not elaborate on the content of the conversation.
But two people who spoke to Fox News Digital said that Rep. Nancy Mace, RS.C., contacted Trump and Self and Norman by phone after voting for Johnson.
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Two people said that Rep. Nancy Mace linked the holdout to Trump. (Getty Images)
Mace did not comment, but Fox News Digital saw him and Johnson kissing on the House floor after they and others were in the room next to the panelists.
He was also seen in heated discussions with Norman outside the House earlier.
Norman also confirmed to reporters that he spoke with Trump on Friday.
Johnson won the position of Speaker of the House in the first round of voting, after it appeared that he was on the verge of defeat.
Attorney Keith Self confirmed he spoke with Trump. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Self, Norman and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., each voted for the people except Johnson, who appeared to be putting the speaker’s gavel out of reach.
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But House leaders didn’t formally end the vote while finding a way forward. Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers were told to be on the House floor immediately to prepare for a second vote.
That second vote did not take place, but Johnson was sworn in as speaker on Friday afternoon.
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