House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said there is no time for Republicans to engage in “palace drama” ahead of Friday’s speakership vote, in which he aims to retain the gavel going into the 119th Congress.

Discussion of Johnson having enough votes to keep his position has grown as Friday draws closer, as Republicans only have a very small majority, and the speaker can only afford to lose a couple of votes. As such, Johnson stressed the need for Republicans to stick together and reelect him as speaker, citing the recent New Orleans terrorist attack as proof that the nation is in “very serious times.”