'i Could Never Do His Job': Former Speaker Newt Gingrich Shows Support For Mike Johnson

Newt Gingrich, who led House Republicans through much of the latter half of the Bill Clinton presidency, is throwing his support behind the embattled speakership of Mike Johnson.

“I tell everybody, I was a pretty effective speaker. I could never do his job,” Gingrich told 77 WABC’s John Catsimatidis. “He has no margins. Any two or three members can rebel at any moment.”

The House will gather on Friday to pick a speaker. And with Republicans expected to have an ever-so-slim 219-215 majority, Johnson can only afford one defection if he wants to keep his job.

Rep. Thomas Massie has already vowed he will vote for someone else. And both the former and current leaders of the House Freedom Caucus, Reps. Scott Perry (R-Penn.) and Andy Harris (R-Md.), have cast doubt on the direction of their votes.

“I think that Mike has done an admirable job under tough conditions, but I'm going to keep my options open,” Perry said last Friday on Fox Business. “I want to have a conversation with Mike.”

Unruly Republicans have focused their ire on Johnson’s handling of a short-term December government funding patch that required Democratic support to move through the House. 34 Republicans opposed the measure.

The package funds the government through March 14 and includes more than $110 billion in disaster aid.

Gingrich called it a success story.

“When you have no margin, and you have to maneuver and listen and maneuver and listen, that is how the Constitutional process works,” he said.