Johnson: 'We're going to dispense with all the usual ceremonies and celebrations'
Newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson said the House would "dispense with all the usual ceremonies and celebrations" after his promotion, which ended three weeks without a speaker in the House of Representatives.
"The American people's business is too urgent in this moment," he said on the steps of the Capitol.
Johnson projected unity and tried to demonstrate that the deep divisions of the House Republican conference are suddenly healed.
“We're in the majority right now. We've gone through a little bit of suffering. We've gone through a little bit of character building. And you know what it's produced? More strength, more perseverance, and a lot of hope. And that's what're about to deliver to the American people,” Johnson said on the House steps.
Johnson said the House will have an “aggressive schedule in the days and weeks ahead.”
The first order of business is passing a resolution to support Israel, he said.
“I'm so grateful and so humbled to have got a unanimous vote on the floor by all of my colleagues here. We went through a lot to get here but we are ready to govern and that will begin right away,” Johnson said.
Meanwhile, Johnson took no questions from reporters at his first press conference.
Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, Majority Whip Tom Emmer and Steve Scalise each spoke highly of Mike Johnson at the beginning of the press conference.
-ABC's Lauren Peller and Tal Axelrod
Newly elected House speaker addresses the chamber