Republican says Trump was playing golf when president-elect called him to change House speaker’s vote on Johnson
Rep. Ralph Norman, RS.C., initially voted for Jim Jordan for speaker of the House on Friday, but President-elect Trump was able to convince him to change his vote — while working on his golf game.
Norman was one of three Republicans who initially refused to vote for Mike Johnson to retain his role.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Norman said Trump called him more than once to try to sway his vote for the speaker.
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Former President Trump follows the third tee shot during the pro-am before the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club Aug. 10, 2023, Bedminster, NJ (Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
In Trump’s first call to Norman, Trump was hitting links.
He said, ‘Look, I’m in the middle of a golf game.’ It was the first time I spoke to him,” said Norman, via MediaIte.
“He said, ‘Well, you voted for Nikki Haley.’ I said, ‘Yes, sir, I am with you now.’ And I said, ‘We’re going to have Mike Johnson.'”
Trump owns several golf courses, one of which was the site of a second assassination attempt on his life this summer. Trump’s USGA handicap was once under 2.5, and he claims he recorded eight holes-in-one.
Trump also spoke with Keith Self, R-Texas, on the phone in an effort to get Self to vote, sources told Fox News Digital.
Attorney Ralph Norman, RS.C., speaks to reporters. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
He confirmed to reporters that he spoke with Trump on the phone several times on Friday.
“I talked to him a few times today,” Self said. “We had a good conversation.”
Attorney Nancy Mace, RS.C., contacted Trump and Self and Norman by phone after they voted for Johnson, the sources said.
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Johnson won the position of Speaker of the House in the first round of voting, after it appeared that he might lose.
Self, Norman and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., every one of them voted for the lawmakers except for Johnson, who seemed to put the platform’s gavel out of reach.
But House leaders did not formally block the vote while they found a way forward. GOP lawmakers were told to be on the House floor immediately to prepare for a second vote.
Donald Trump golf (Getty Images)
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That second vote did not take place, but Johnson was sworn in as speaker on Friday afternoon.
Elizabeth Elkind of Fox News contributed to this report.
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