After sabotaging Tom Emmer's run for House speaker, former President Donald Trump on Wednesday swung his support behind Rep. Mike Johnson and urged a swift end to the paralysis gripping the Republican Party.

Johnson, 51, won the speaker nomination late on Tuesday night but now faces the tricky business of finding the 217 votes he needs to win.

It makes him the fourth nominee since Kevin McCarthy was ousted 22 days ago. 

'I am not going to make an endorsement in this race, because I could never go against any of these fine and very talented men, all of whom have supported me, in both mind and spirit, from the very beginning of our great 2016 Victory,' he said of the candidates who have declared for the post.

'My strong suggestion is to go with the leading candidate, Mike Johnson.'

Trump also praised him as he arrived in court for his ongoing civil fraud trial.

'I think he's going to be a fantastic speaker,' he said.

Johnson follows in the footsteps of Emmer, who won the nomination on Tuesday before being quickly derided by Trump.

'I have many wonderful friends wanting to be speaker of the House, and some are truly great Warriors.

'RINO Tom Emmer, who I do not know well, is not one of them,' he posted on Truth Social, using an abbreviation for 'Republican in name only.' 

Emmer, of Minnesota, jumped into a lead during private morning balloting on Tuesday, ahead of a field of lesser-known congressman. He took 117 votes in a roll call behind closed doors.