Brian Kilmeade, co-host of Fox & Friends, had strong words for House Republicans as they struggle to decide whether Speaker Mike Johnson should remain in his role. Despite President-elect Donald Trump publicly supporting Johnson, he is having a hard time getting enough votes from his own party.
Some Republicans, like Rep. Thomas Massie, have already said they won’t back him. Others in the Freedom Caucus seem hesitant, possibly because they are trying to negotiate deals or make a point.
Fox News reporter Aishah Hasnie explained how tough the situation looks for Johnson, saying his chances don’t look good. Kilmeade, clearly frustrated, reminded everyone of the chaos from late 2023 when Republicans struggled for weeks to choose a speaker after ousting Kevin McCarthy. He pointed out how embarrassing it was for the country and how it made the U.S. look bad on the global stage.
“Do the Republicans realize how humiliating it was when they went through those five rounds of voting and couldn’t pick a speaker? It was embarrassing for the country, and the same people causing issues back then are doing it again,” Kilmeade said.
Hasnie agreed and explained how the House was frozen for days during McCarthy’s speaker vote and then again for weeks after his removal. She pointed out that during those weeks, the world didn’t stop. For example, Israel was attacked by Hamas, and the House couldn’t respond because it wasn’t functioning. She stressed that this kind of delay causes real problems, especially with a new administration preparing to take office.
President-elect Trump is ready to start making big decisions on his first day in office, Hasnie said. But the House cannot operate without a Speaker. This also means they can’t certify the election results on January 6, which is a crucial part of transitioning to a new administration. “If Republicans don’t come together soon, the House will once again be stuck, and no work will get done,” she explained.
Hasnie also pointed out that Democrats are not going to step in to help the Republicans fix this issue. It’s up to the Republicans to solve this on their own. The clock is ticking, and if they can’t come together to support Johnson or choose another speaker, the government will remain at a standstill. This could delay important decisions and further hurt the reputation of the Republican Party.
Kilmeade’s frustration and Hasnie’s explanation highlight how much is at stake if the Republicans fail to resolve their internal disagreements. Without a functioning House, key government tasks, including certifying the election, will be delayed, creating even more challenges for the incoming administration.
