Speaker Johnson becomes 'MAGA' Mike, cementing place in Trump's circle

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is cementing his place in President-elect Trump’s inner orbit, becoming not only a visible — if slightly out-of-place-looking — part of his entourage, but a key supporter of his no-holds-barred approach to his second term.

The dynamic is setting up the Speaker to be critical to Trump’s success in his first months in office, both in ushering through his agenda and putting implicit pressure on congressional Republicans to rubber-stamp Trump’s controversial nominees and legislative plans.