Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was the focus of a scathing article in The Atlantic on Tuesday about his tenure leading the House. The article by Elaine Godfrey and Russell Berman, titled “House Republicans Aren’t Having Any Fun,” quoted several past GOP House members as well as current members, who spoke anonymously.
The writers note of Johnson’s time as speaker, “From the start, Johnson’s unwavering loyalty—some would say obsequiousness—to Trump has defined his speakership. He’s developed a reputation for never saying what he actually thinks about anything, lest he cross the president.”
In recent months, Johnson has been regularly asked by congressional reporters to weigh in on President Donald Trump’s bombastic statements or shock moves – like renaming the Kennedy Center after himself – and time and time again refuses to comment.
“I don’t do ongoing commentary about everything that’s said by everybody in government every day,” Johnson recently said when asked about Trump’s shocking attack on legendary director Rob Reiner after he was murdered.
“That’s the president of the United States,” CNN’s Manu Raju added, pushing for an answer. “We are trying to bring down healthcare costs for the American people. They’re in very important votes, very important issues, and that’s what we’re focused on,” replied Johnson.
The article went on to add, “Yet some Republicans are beginning to join Democrats in seeing that as a fault of Johnson’s rather than a credit.”
A House Republican weighed in on the topic anonymously, saying, “The reason he’s hanging on is because President Trump wants a weak speaker. He wants a speaker that essentially functions like a staff member, which is what Mike Johnson does.” The article then quoted former Representative Bob Good of Virginia, who said that Johnson is “a puppet of the president.”
“As has been sadly the case throughout the year, Republicans simply surrendered to his wishes,” Good added, arguing that Johnson has only kept his job because Trump wants him as speaker.
