Mike Johnson's hell-in-waiting if he keeps the speaker gavel in 2025

House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing challenges in maintaining his position amid a setback in his legislative plans. His rank-and-file members are skeptical of his proposal, top deputies are blaming each other, and former President Trump has publicly opposed him. Johnson is aware that he cannot pass legislation with partisan policies but feels pressured to demonstrate effort. Despite his previous success in securing aid for Ukraine, Johnson now finds himself in a caretaker role. Trump's recent post suggests that he and Johnson may not be fully aligned. Tensions are rising among Johnson's deputies, with some blaming Majority Whip Tom Emmer for legislative failures. However, Emmer's supporters deny these accusations. Johnson's Plan A has faced criticism and is likely to fail, prompting his members to await a Plan B, which Johnson denies having. House Republicans anticipate a six-month stopgap as Plan B, followed by a deal in the lame duck session if that also fails.