In a remarkable twist of fate, it appears that President-Elect Donald Trump’s influence extends even to the golf course, as evidenced by the recent vote to keep U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson in his position. Representative Ralph Norman from South Carolina disclosed that while Trump was indulging in a round of golf, he managed to sway some of his fellow Republicans toward supporting Johnson, despite their initial hesitation. It seems that even a golf game is no match for the former President’s ability to rally the troops.
The recent session in the House of Representatives culminated in a narrow vote of 218 to 215 to retain Johnson as Speaker. This result, however, didn’t come without its own drama. A group of Republicans initially considered steering the party in a different direction, prompted by grievances over Johnson’s leadership. Norman and other holdouts stood their ground at first, demonstrating that dissent still exists even within the supposedly united front of the Republican Party.
Ralph Norman, who initially opposed Johnson, says Trump was in the middle of his golf game when he called him to press for his support and reminded Norman of his backing of Nikki Haley in the primary.
Norman said to Trump: "We're with you now, we will be with Mike Johnson." pic.twitter.com/kjF2sSuHtE— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 3, 2025
Interestingly, as the voting unfolded, a good number of Republicans were either reluctant or outright refused to support Johnson despite his endorsement from Trump, who, let’s not forget, is the self-proclaimed “leader of the Republican Party.” The holdouts, it seemed, were ready to go into battle over their choices, even when the man at the top was calling for party unity. In a political landscape where party leadership often flounders, it’s amusing to see members trying to play their own games while the big guy is busy dominating the golf course.
As for the voting rollercoaster, some Republicans shifted their stance, ultimately falling in line behind Johnson—thanks, in no small part, to Trump’s persistent phone calls. Norman revealed that Trump’s charmingly direct approach had an effect, as the former President reached out multiple times to persuade him to change his vote. It begs the question: can golf also serve as a platform for political maneuvering? It seems that when Trump is at the helm, anything is possible.
In the end, Johnson’s victory was solidified, with only Representative Thomas Massie holding strong against the prevailing winds. The spectacle of Trump’s golf calls not only swayed votes but also highlighted the continuing influence of the former President within the GOP. Norman’s shift from holdout to supporter exemplified how, on any given day, a few words from Trump—delivered between swings on the golf course—can shift the ideological currents within Congress. If only Congress could find a way to make golf a regular part of their legislative sessions, they might just solve all their disputes with a simple game.