President Donald Trump is reportedly mocking House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) in private conversations, claiming he can control the Louisiana Republican with ease.
According to a New York Times report, Trump has been overheard joking that he’s both “the speaker and the president,” suggesting that Johnson does little more than follow his lead.
Two individuals familiar with Trump’s comments said the president’s growing influence over Johnson has become clear throughout the ongoing government shutdown.
Critics argue Johnson has turned the speakership into an extension of Trump’s will, saying his every move mirrors the president’s agenda.
Democrats accuse Johnson of being unwilling to stand up to the White House. They point to his close alignment with Trump’s policies, from government spending to immigration and education reform.
Johnson was a major supporter of the White House’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping spending proposal aimed at advancing Trump’s “America First” agenda. He’s also worked to keep Republican lawmakers united behind Trump’s priorities on border security, energy independence, and abortion restrictions.
Democratic leaders say Johnson’s loyalty has come at the expense of the Constitution. “His obstruction has gone far beyond petty partisan politics – it’s an unlawful breach of our Constitution and the democratic process,” Representative Adelita Grijalva said.
Johnson has refused to swear in Grijalva, who was elected to fill a vacant Democratic seat.
Her vote would have been critical in a House petition to force the release of new Justice Department findings in the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Grijalva and other Democrats have blasted Johnson for blocking her from taking the oath of office, calling it an abuse of power. Johnson claims he lacks the authority to administer it, a position Democrats say has no legal basis.
The shutdown, which began on October 1, has only deepened tensions. Johnson has refused to reconvene the House until Democrats agree to Republican budget measures backed by the Trump administration.
In the meantime, Johnson has focused his efforts on media appearances where he’s defended Trump and attacked the president’s critics.
He’s supported Trump’s recent decision to pardon former Congressman George Santos, who was convicted of fraud, saying the president “believes in redemption.”
Johnson also defended Trump’s $230 million lawsuit against the Justice Department, calling it a justified response to years of politically motivated investigations.
In another move that drew backlash, Johnson praised Trump’s controversial demolition of the White House East Wing, saying the new ballroom planned to replace it “is going to be glorious.”
Despite criticism from the left, Johnson has remained firmly in Trump’s corner throughout the shutdown, arguing that the president’s leadership is what the country needs right now.
His unwavering loyalty has fueled claims that Trump’s grip over congressional Republicans remains as strong as ever — and that even the highest office in the House answers directly to him.
