Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) criticized Republicans who refuse to back House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) attempt to clinch the gavel again in the lower chamber.
“This is a stunningly stupid, suicidal strategy. … These guys need psychologists,” Gingrich said during a Friday afternoon appearance on Fox News.
His comments come after days of critiques of GOP members straying away from President-elect Trump’s support for Johnson’s second term.
“I do not understand what the CONTRARIAN house republicans think they will gain by opposing Speaker Mike Johnson,” Gingrich wrote in a Tuesday post on the social media platform X.
“They have no one who can get more votes. they risk crippling President Trump’s electoral win on January 6,” he added, declaring the group of Republicans “allies of the Democrats.”
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) hit back in a lengthy post outlining why Johnson wasn’t the best fit for the job.
In Friday’s first vote, Johnson was unsuccessful after losing the support of three crucial Republicans, including Massie.
Lawmakers are planning to hold a second vote after the impasse Friday afternoon.
