Senator John Thune states that House Speaker Mike Johnson faces a "challenging task" due to the slim Republican majority.

"He has many people going in various directions," Thune remarked in an interview with "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker.

Jan. 4, 2025, 3:30 AM GMT+6

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the incoming Senate majority leader, stated on Friday that House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., faces a "really, really tough job" navigating a narrow Republican majority in the House.

During an interview with "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker, Thune acknowledged Johnson's responsiveness to his members but noted the challenges of managing a divided faction. "With such a narrow margin, any individual member of the House can have a significant impact," Thune said.

Despite not having worked closely with Johnson in the past, Thune expressed confidence that the two could develop a "strong working relationship."

Johnson secured a second term as speaker on Friday with a narrow 218-215 vote, following his first election to the position in October 2023 after the ousting of former Speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. Although Johnson faced early defections from some Republican members during the voting, Reps. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., and Keith Self, R-Texas, later switched their votes in support of him, while Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., remained the sole Republican opposing him.

After Johnson’s re-election, 11 members of the House Freedom Caucus issued a letter outlining their demands, which included extending the House's working calendar, reversing key Biden administration policies immediately, and banning stock trading by members of Congress. The group emphasized their support for Johnson due to his commitment to President Trump and securing the timely certification of his electors, though they voiced concerns about his track record over the past 15 months.

With a slim 219-215 Republican majority in the House, Johnson's leadership will be tested. In contrast, Thune, leading a 53-47 Republican majority in the Senate, expressed his intention to give Johnson "deference to how he runs the House," acknowledging his own limited understanding of House dynamics.

Thune also emphasized the importance of close cooperation between Senate and House GOP leaders and the incoming president. "If we are going to accomplish our agenda for the American people, we need to work as a team with the White House," Thune said.

In his speech after his re-election, Johnson outlined part of the Republican agenda, asserting that the GOP has earned a mandate from a "powerful new coalition" that seeks to eliminate policies that prioritize "America last." Johnson highlighted defending the nation’s borders as the top priority, vowing to reject the status quo and act quickly in response to the people’s voices.