Scott Perry criticized Mike Johnson’s ability to advance ‘Trump agenda’ while other Pa. Republicans praised him
U.S. Representative-elect Ryan MacKenzie said that House Speaker Mike Johnson “has ably managed the tight House majority."
Following President-elect Donald Trump’s endorsement of House Speaker Mike Johnson, some Pennsylvania Republicans have praised the speaker, but U.S. Rep. Scott Perry had sharper words for him.
Trump announced on Monday that he fully endorses Johnson’s retention as speaker after the Louisiana Republican faced backlash from some in his party over a bipartisan government funding deal to avert a shutdown. The endorsement is valuable for Johnson, who has led the House with a narrow Republican majority since October 2023.
Given the tight margins in the House, Johnson can afford few GOP defections when Congress begins its new session this week if he wants to keep his gavel.
Trump’s endorsement came as part of a diatribe about the presidential election and President Joe Biden’s administration. After mentions of Beyoncé and the Rev. Al Sharpton — both surrogates for Vice President Kamala Harris’ unsuccessful campaign — and various phrases in all caps, Trump’s final sentence said: “Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement. MAGA!!!”
U.S. Rep.-elect Ryan MacKenzie (R., Pa.), a state representative who ousted U.S. Rep. Susan Wild (D., Pa.), said in a statement to The Inquirer that Johnson “has ably managed the tight House majority.”
“Heading into the new Session, we need to stay focused on improving our economy, strengthening border security, and ending the chaos around the world,” MacKenzie said.
But U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R., Pa.) had sharper words for Johnson, saying on Fox Business on Monday that “the speaker has not been artful” in advancing the “Trump agenda.” Perry had said on Friday that Trump would likely have the final say on who would become speaker.
“What we can’t have is the disaster of what we’ve had over the last year and a half of having more Democrats voting for massive bills than Republicans under a Republican-led House,” the York County Republican said Monday.
He said that he believes Johnson understands that “if he’s going to be speaker, things are going to have to change.”
“We have to be able to move the Trump agenda,” Perry said, adding that he feels “confident it’s going to work out one way or another.”
Perry did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser (R., Pa.) said that he supports Trump’s endorsement of Johnson and that the House “will continue to be a bulwark against the left’s destructive policies” and “correct course for our great nation” under Johnson’s leadership.
“As we move forward to build on the historic victory of 2024, President Trump is carefully assembling the best possible team to advance the America First agenda — and Speaker Johnson will play a critical role in that effort,” the Luzerne County lawmaker said in a statement to The Inquirer.
Meuser called Johnson “a man of principle, integrity, and hard work” and said that “Trump’s trust in him speaks volumes.”
A spokesperson for U.S. Rep.-elect Rob Bresnahan (R., Pa.), who defeated U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D., Pa.), provided a forward-looking statement when asked to comment on Trump’s endorsement.
“Rob looks forward to working with Speaker Johnson in the 119th Congress to secure our border, get our economy back on track and to deliver for the people of NEPA,” said spokesperson Hannah Pope, referencing Bresnahan’s Northeast Pennsylvania district.
U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.), the Bucks County lawmaker who is the sole congressional Republican from the Philadelphia area, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
An earlier version of this story misidentified Ryan MacKenzie’s office at the time of the election.