Everything you need to know about the new US Speaker of the House in 62 terrifying yet hilarious seconds
Having engineered the historic ousting of Speaker Kevin McCarthy after just nine months, Republicans failed three times to elect their preferred replacement Jim Jordan, with the Congressman from Ohio losing votes each time it was put to the House.
I served with Jim Jordan in the House.
It's not surprising he doesn't have the votes.
Many in the GOP do not like him. Him spreading the Big Lie has not helped.
I am grateful to my former GOP colleagues who are holding the line and voting no on Jordan.
— Denver Riggleman (@RepRiggleman) October 20, 2023
Whatever caused a roadblock for Jordan, it can’t have been his support for Donald Trump, because the next nominee – a virtual unknown from Louisiana named Mike Johnson – managed to unite the House Republicans and grab the job.
JUST IN – Republican Mike Johnson elected as U.S. House Speaker. pic.twitter.com/cIqAkRxpKP
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) October 25, 2023
Johnson openly supports the very right-wing views trumpeted by the likes of Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene, such as ignoring the fundamental separation of church and state.
Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson is aghast that any of his colleagues would dare to argue "that our rights do not come from God": "Think about how scary that is. If you believe your rights come from government, then it means you don't owe any allegiance at all to God." pic.twitter.com/dOI7aVZsUW
— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) October 26, 2023
He takes a very hard line on abortion, regardless of the circumstances.
Late this evening House Republicans chose Rep. Mike Johnson as their fifth would-be speaker of the month.
Johnson is one of the biggest anti-choice extremists in Congress, he wants to ban all abortions without exception — to the point of criminalization with prison sentences. pic.twitter.com/vRFaMqpT82
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) October 25, 2023
His stance on the LGBTQ+ community owes more to the Taliban than to modern America.
2004: New House Speaker Mike Johnson in an Op-Ed on same-sex marriage:
“If we change marriage for this tiny, modern minority, we will have to do it for every deviant group. Polygamists, polyamorists, pedophiles, and others will be next in line to claim equal protection.“ pic.twitter.com/9DKBsFFmvF
— Route60plus (@Route_60plus) October 26, 2023
Of course, he’s a Trump cultist who believes the 2020 election was stolen.
So a man who wanted to overthrow the 2020 election results is now the second most powerful person in the United States.
— Mona Eltahawy (@monaeltahawy) October 25, 2023
On paper, he’s a more dogmatic Jim Jordan.
TikTok star Greg Johnstone – The Bad News Guy – summed up the situation in 62 seconds. It’s both brutally true and very, very funny.
@johnstone.gregory Mike Johnson – certifiably terrifying #mikejohnson #speakerofthehouse #housespeaker ♬ original sound – Greg Johnstone
“I believe in conversion therapy.”
“Where did we find this guy – the 1950s?”
It certainly made an impact on TikTok users, picking up almost 300,000 likes so far – not to mention almost 7,000 comments, including these –
I really really don’t like the last several seasons of America. these writers are really pushing this dystopian thing.
Jaxon T. Thomas
Why is the Onion writing this season of the government?
TokenDad
Puts glass of wine back, takes entire bottle.
Faith Whitaker
So congress workers are allowed to have no exp. but we’re forced to have +15yrs exp. for jobs right out of college.
Arrietty
WHAT IN THE HANDMAIDS TALE?!
LIFEIZCRAZY4EVER
I’m from Louisiana and I don’t even know him.
hannah abshire
Yeah…. Lemme pack I’m out , I’m walking across the seas bc I ain’t got boat money.
Eh
I’m gonna need CERN to fire it up & take us to another timeline bc this one ain’t it.
Ashley
All of this. And yes, he not only could be the worst, he is.
StardewValleyStar
It isn’t surprising that some people, like honestpoker, weren’t quite sure they could laugh at it.
This would be funny if it wasn’t so terrifyingly accurate about the US government.
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Source Greg Johnstone Image Screengrab