Ex-GOP Congressman Says Republicans ‘Were Applauding Their Own Misery’ After Tight Speakership Vote

Former Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA) said Republicans’ celebration upon reelecting Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Friday was colored by a bit of gallows humor.

Johnson was narrowly reelected speaker after it appeared he could not secure enough votes. However, two recalcitrant Republicans –Reps. Ralph Norman (R-SC) and Keith Self (R-TX) changed their votes on the first ballot after receiving calls from President-elect Donald Trump.

Shortly after the drama on the House floor, Riggleman appeared on MSNBC to offer his reaction.

“Are you surprised Johnson was able to avoid a prolonged drama?” Alex Witt asked. “Or did this constitute a drama in your mind, given the length of time, at least, it took to pass on this first vote?”

Riggleman replied:

I think it’s pretty indicative that Donald Trump owns the party… It’s a bit messy when you know that the only reason Mike Johnson is up there because of the president[-elect]. And what’s gonna happen over the next six to nine months – because if you look at the slim majority right now, Alex – I think this is no-room-to-breathe-Congress because you’re probably gonna have a Democratic Congress in ’26. How are they gonna do this?

When everybody was applauding when they got sworn in, I have been there, Alex, as you know. When that happened, I started to laugh a little bit because it’s almost like they’re applauding their own misery and the torture chamber that’s gonna be in the next two years in the House.

The former lawmaker went on to say some Republicans “like to drink their own bathwater and they definitely wanna vote for what they think their conscience or ideologues were going to vote that way… And Donald Trump told them, ‘Hey, get in line.’ And that’s really what happened today.”

Watch above via MSNBC.