House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, held a meeting with former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Monday night, as confirmed by two sources familiar with the matter. This encounter follows Johnson's recent endorsement of Trump for the 2024 presidential race. The meeting took place during a fundraiser for Representative Gus Bilirakis, a fellow Republican from Florida.

Johnson's endorsement of Trump has set him apart from his predecessor, Representative Kevin McCarthy, who refrained from backing a candidate during his tenure as speaker earlier this year. Such endorsements from Congressional leaders typically come after presumptive nominees are established. Trump seemed to support Johnson's bid for speaker on his Truth Social platform last month.

The encounter between Johnson and Trump holds political significance as it aligns with Trump's lead in GOP presidential primary polls. In 2020, Johnson led an amicus brief signed by 100 Republicans in support of a Texas lawsuit seeking to invalidate election results in four battleground states won by President Joe Biden. Notably, Johnson's endorsement of Trump contrasts with statements he made in 2015, where he expressed concerns about Trump's character and moral center. The details of their discussion and the implications for the GOP remain key points of interest in the evolving political landscape.