Trump urged to step in to unite GOP as lawmakers fear speaker showdown could delay election certification

President-elect Donald Trump is being urged to step in as House Republicans face pressure to quickly choose the next speaker despite a handful of party members posing a threat to a slim majority, leaving House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., control of the gavel — and potentially the fate of the election certification — hanging about the end.

“It’s a terrible challenge. We’ve seen it play out over the past two years. It was very difficult for Kevin McCarthy. It was very difficult for Mike Johnson. It would be very difficult for whoever was elected to be the speaker of our conference,” Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., told Fox News on Sunday.

“But at the end of the day, the difference between the 119th Congress and the 118th Congress is we’re going to have a Republican president, a strong Republican president who’s very popular with Republican congressmen, voters at home, and that’s Donald Trump,” he said. continued.

JOHNSON’S ALLIES CALL TRUMP TO INTERVENTE AS SPEAKER BOARD THREATENED DELAY OF 2024 CERTIFICATION.

US President-elect Donald Trump looks on during Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center on December 22, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

But the math is scary for Johnson, especially if several of his fellow Republicans decide to vote for someone else, preventing him from reaching the magic number of 218.

As Fox News’ senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram said thatthe impasse “paralyzes the House of Representatives,” preventing them from swearing in members, forming committees and even certifying the results of the 2024 election, if the issue is extended to Jan. 6.

Then, the highest-ranking member of the majority party in the Senate, the president pro tempore could take on the role of “acting president” if the House of Representatives is still sorting out its speaker question on Jan. 20, when Trump is scheduled to take office.

That means Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, could “probably” take the role, according to Pergram.

DONALD TRUMP SAYS MIKE JOHNSON WILL ‘EASY TO REMAIN SPEAKER’ IF HE BEHAVE ‘DETERMINED AND FIRM’ ON SPENDING BILL

House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) speaks during a hearing with FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf at the Rayburn House on April 11, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Acknowledging the potential challenge, Comer continued: “I strongly encourage Donald Trump to talk to those five or six members who will not commit to voting for Mike Johnson because this will only delay us.

“It will delay the certification The election of President Trump. That will delay the start of his first 100 days in office, the most important time frame of his entire presidency. That’s when you can do the most in history, so I strongly encourage President Trump to get on the phone and try to bring everyone together so we can work together as a team and make America great again.”

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Fox News’ Chad Pergram contributed to this report.