‘Haven’t seen it’: Mike Johnson roasted for playing dumb on whatever reporters ask
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) doesn't appear to know, and he likely hasn't seen whatever video, speech, or statement reporters want to ask him about.
For the past several weeks, as reporters peppered Johnson with questions about President Donald Trump's cognitive decline, violence at the hands of ICE and other federal agents, and even things said by members of his own caucus. He answered simply that he doesn't know and hasn't seen it, heard it or examined it.
A Religious News Service reporter caught Johnson in a fib, while others couldn't help but notice that Johnson doesn't seem to know anything about anything.
Asked about a pastor being shot in the face by a pepper round by federal agents, Johnson responded, “I can't comment on any of those instances. I haven't seen or heard any of those videos…Religious freedom does not extend and give you the right to get in the face of an ICE officer and assault them.”
"Note: I asked this question, and you’ll hear me say 'yes you have' here — because Johnson was already *directly asked* about one of these instances in one of earlier shutdown press conferences," said Jack Jenkins, national reporter for Religion News Service.
It comes after Johnson was leveled by Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show" on Monday. He showed a clip of Johnson being asked about Trump's demand for $230 million from the DOJ for himself. Johnson said he hadn't spoken to Trump and didn't know any specifics.
"Uhhhh, I'm just f---ed up," Stewart said, mocking Johnson.
The day after the DOJ question, another reporter followed up, asking Johnson's opinion on it. The Speaker swore he wasn't trying to dodge the question: "I haven't had time to dig into the details."
Stewart mocked Johnson for claiming he had a lot to do, alleging it was only to cover up the investigation files surrounding Jeffrey Epstein. Republican members are out of Washington for another week, and Johnson is refusing to negotiate on the budget or healthcare. So, many people have questions about what exactly Johnson knows.
"Mike has never seen or heard of anything happening," posted CJ Fogler.
"When not appearing at a podium, does Mike Johnson go to his office, stand facing a corner and stick his fingers in his ears? The man never seems to have heard or seen anything ever," Broadway lawyer Michael Salerno questioned.
"More s--- Mike Johnson doesn’t know," said Mueller, She Wrote's Allison Gill on Bluesky.
"Can a reporter grow a pair and just say what we all are thinking already?" asked national security lawyer Bradley P. Moss. "He is deliberately refusing to look at information so he can remain ignorant. Pure and simple."
Even "Mother Jones" commented, "Mike Johnson, the perpetually unaware, strikes again."
"Has Mike Johnson ever considered holding his daily presser an hour later to give him time to read a paper?" influencer Schooley asked.
‘Awkward guy’: White House insiders fear Vance may do ‘more harm than good’ with speech
Hours before he is expected to speak at a Turning Point USA gathering in Mississippi, Vice President JD Vance did not get a vote of confidence from one White House insider.
According to a report from MSNBC’s Jake Traylor, Donald Trump's MAGA heir-apparent will attempt to step into the shoes of the late TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk by giving a speech and then taking questions at the SJB Pavilion on the University of Mississippi campus.
As Traylor wrote, Vance will attempt to mimic Kirk’s appearances on college campuses that came to an abrupt end during a visit to Utah Valley University.
The report notes that Vance’s performance will be “graded” against how Kirk was received, and there is some trepidation at the White House about whether he will pull it off.
With Traylor writing, “He will try to avoid the potential pitfalls that accompany an unpredictable, live college debate format that could lead to him seeming to diminish the office he now holds. And he will try to not be too obvious in his angling for a 2028 presidential bid,” one White House official attempted to downplay expectations by admitting, “There’s tons of risks.”
Vance has claimed, “I’m going to do exactly what Charlie did. {Kirk] would answer tough questions from the left and from the right, and so I want to do that, too,” which has MSNBC reporting, “White House officials and people close to Vance caution that simply playing Kirk may do more harm than good.”
”[Charlie] had unique skills,” one person admitted. “Vance can be an awkward guy on stage. He’s not going to be what Kirk was, he’s just different from that.”
According to the report, for Vance to advance his hopes of replacing Trump, he needs to get organizations like TPUSA on his side.
To political observers, "his proximity to Turning Point in recent weeks highlights his growing alliance with the powerhouse youth group amid early speculation of his own 2028 presidential run,” MSNBC is reporting.
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