WASHINGTON — Republicans have such a small majority within the Home of Representatives that President Donald Trump has requested Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) to remain within the Home as a substitute of serving as ambassador to the United Nations.
“As we advance our America First Agenda, it’s important that we keep EVERY Republican Seat in Congress,” Trump said on Truth Social. “I’ve requested Elise, as one in all my greatest Allies, to stay in Congress to assist me ship Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, File Financial Progress, a Safe Border, Power Dominance, Peace By means of Energy, and far more, so we will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”
Home Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has repeatedly lamented that he has the narrowest Home majority in historical past, making it tough to go laws with solely Republican votes — an crucial for signature payments, together with a serious tax and spending minimize bundle Johnson hopes to go within the coming weeks.
Not lengthy after Trump tapped three Home members for administration roles after profitable the election in November, Johnson joked that he ought to minimize it out. “I’ve begged and pleaded with the brand new president: Sufficient already, okay, as a result of our numbers are small,” Johnson mentioned.
Republicans presently maintain 218 Home seats to Democrats’ 213, with two vacancies on either side. Which means with full attendance, Johnson wants 216 votes for a majority, so he can lose solely two Republicans and nonetheless transfer partisan laws.
Stefanik continues to be a Home member despite the fact that she already sat by means of a affirmation listening to and her nomination has been accredited by a Senate committee. Senate Republicans haven’t rushed to carry a closing affirmation vote, apparently in gentle of the Home state of affairs. Trump tapped two different Home Republicans for administration jobs: now-former Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), whose seats are nonetheless vacant.
The Stefanik change got here as a shock on Capitol Hill. Earlier on Thursday, Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-S.D.) mentioned he was unaware of any resolution to tug Stefanik’s nomination.
“I’ve not heard that, no,” Thune informed reporters Thursday.
Home Democratic chief Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) famous that Trump received Stefanik’s district by 21 factors in November.
“He withdrew her nomination to be U.N. Ambassador as a result of the extremists are afraid they’ll lose the particular election to switch her,” Jeffries mentioned. “The Republican agenda is extraordinarily unpopular, they’re crashing the financial system in actual time and Home Republicans are working scared. What occurred to their so-called mandate?”
Trump alluded to the potential issue of profitable Home races in his assertion.
“With a really tight Majority, I don’t need to take an opportunity on anybody else working for Elise’s seat. The individuals love Elise and, along with her, we now have nothing to fret about come Election Day,” Trump wrote, including that Stefanik would return to her position on Johnson’s management workforce.
