Trump’s Inauguration to be Delayed Amid Chaos in D.C.?

The MAGA world could be barreling toward a full-blown constitutional meltdown. At stake? Donald Trump’s inauguration as president on Jan. 20.

Republican infighting has put the House of Representatives in turmoil, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) facing opposition from his own party. If Johnson loses his post, the House could be paralyzed, unable to certify Trump’s re-election victory. Without that certification, the inauguration cannot proceed.

The new Congress convenes on Jan. 3, as mandated by the Constitution. Traditionally, the first order of business is electing the House Speaker, who then swears in newly elected members.

In normal times, this is routine. But the Republican Party is anything but united. If no speaker is chosen, the House can’t function, including holding the Jan. 6 joint session to certify the Electoral College results. This certification must be completed by Jan. 20, the constitutional deadline for the outgoing president’s term to end.

Political science expert Steve Smith of Arizona State University describes the stakes as unprecedented. “If the House fails to elect a speaker, the country enters uncharted territory,” Smith said. “No one really knows what happens next.”

The road to retaining Johnson’s speakership looks treacherous. He needs 218 votes, but the GOP’s slim majority leaves little room for error. Republicans control 219 seats compared to Democrats’ 215.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has already declared he won’t back Johnson. Other Republicans remain undecided. Even a handful of defections could doom him.

Tensions between Trump and Johnson have escalated. Earlier this month, Trump demanded Johnson push through a government funding bill that also suspended the debt ceiling. When the plan failed, leaving Johnson scrambling to avoid a shutdown, Trump was reportedly furious.

“Johnson is f—ed,” one GOP lawmaker bluntly told The Daily Beast.

Trump’s frustration could push Republicans to consider a temporary speaker or alternative solutions, but nothing is guaranteed.

Without a speaker, scenarios get murky. Constitutional scholars are divided on whether the House clerk could swear in members or if a temporary speaker could be appointed.

If no agreement is reached, the election certification could remain in limbo. Under the Constitution, Biden’s term ends at noon on Jan. 20, removing him and Kamala Harris from the line of succession.

Next in line would be the House Speaker—but with that position vacant, it passes to the Senate president pro tempore. Currently, that’s 91-year-old Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

Grassley hasn’t publicly commented on the chaos. One can only hope someone in D.C. is checking on him.

The situation underscores deep divisions within the Republican Party and the MAGA movement’s grip on the GOP. As the clock ticks toward Jan. 20, the country faces the possibility of an unprecedented constitutional crisis.

For now, all eyes are on Capitol Hill. Can Republicans resolve their infighting in time to certify Trump’s win? Or will political gridlock bring the nation to the brink of chaos?

Stay tuned. This story isn’t over yet.