<picture class="article__media"> <img src="https://img.lemde.fr/2025/01/03/0/0/7403/4935/664/0/75/0/39651bc_5646024-01-06.jpg" alt="Images Le Monde.fr" width="100%" height="auto"> </picture> <noscript> <img src="https://img.lemde.fr/2025/01/03/0/0/7403/4935/664/0/75/0/39651bc_5646024-01-06.jpg" alt="US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (C), Republican from Louisiana, sits in his seat during the vote for Speaker of the House during the first day of the 119th Congress in the House Chamber at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 3, 2025."> </noscript> <figcaption class="article__legend" aria-hidden="true">US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (C), Republican from Louisiana, sits in his seat during the vote for Speaker of the House during the first day of the 119th Congress in the House Chamber at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 3, 2025. ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP </figcaption>

Divided Republicans in the United States House of Representatives failed to elect a speaker in the opening round of voting, on Friday, January 3, as right-wing rebels defied President-elect Donald Trump to block the return of <a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/10/26/trump-ally-mike-johnson-elected-house-speaker-ending-three-weeks-of-gop-infighting_6204553_4.html">previous speaker Mike Johnson</a>.

The Louisiana lawmaker was unable to earn the support of a simple majority in the lower chamber of Congress, where the Republicans' already threadbare majority was reduced to just 219-215 in November's election.

Johnson secured 216 votes, beating Democratic minority leader Hakeem Jeffries by one – but with three Republicans not backing their leader, the process now goes to a second round.

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Le Monde with AFP

With three US House Republicans not backing previous speaker Mike Johnson, the voting will go to another round, despite Johnson beating Democratic minority leader Hakeem Jeffries 216 votes to 215.{ai:summary}Divided Republicans in the House failed to elect a speaker on January 3, 2025, as right-wing rebels opposed President-elect Donald Trump and blocked Mike Johnson's return. Johnson received 216 votes, narrowly defeating Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, but fell short of a majority.With three Republicans not supporting him, the election process will move to a second round. The Republicans' slim majority has been reduced to 219-215 following the November elections. #politics

US House rejects Trump ally Mike Johnson in first speaker vote

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