Two top aides to former President Donald Trump have approached several House Republicans with a stark warning — top Republican political operative Jeff Roe cannot have a foothold in Speaker Mike Johnson’s orbit.
Roe, of course, is lead strategist for Never Back Down, the super PAC supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ run for the GOP presidential nomination. Which makes him persona non grata in Trump world.
And why is this a concern for Johnson, the brand new speaker, as he seeks to up his fundraising game? Because everything is about Trump, even when it isn’t.
Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, two top Trump aides, have approached several GOP lawmakers to warn them of the speaker associating with Roe.
“There is a great deal of concern over any chance that Jeff Roe would be involved in a political operation for the speaker of the House,” said a senior figure in the Trump orbit.
Roe is the principal and owner of Axiom Strategies, which bills itself as “the nation’s largest full-service political consulting, public affairs, and public relations firm serving conservative candidates and causes.” Roe has ties to dozens of House and Senate Republicans, making him a very influential political operative.
But Roe has gotten crosswise with Trump over his work for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in the 2016 GOP primary, as well as for DeSantis this year.
To Johnson’s allies, this is much ado about nothing. Johnson has told associates he is not sure he has met Roe and has no connection to him. (Johnson and Roe have met once, according to a source close to the matter).
But Johnson relies on Jason Hebert, whose political firm was purchased by Axiom. Hebert is a top Louisiana strategist who has worked for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.).
So the new speaker will have to deal with this Trump-Roe issue as the former president continues to lead the GOP field for the 2024 White House nomination.
— John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman
