House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has become the butt of jokes on social media over his choice of one word.
While taking questions from reporters on Thursday, Johnson addressed a recent incident, first reported by POLITICO, of an American flag altered to include a swastika inside the office of Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio). The GOP congressman said in a statement to the outlet on Wednesday that he condemns the image “in the strongest terms” and it “does not reflect the values or standards of this office, my staff, or myself.”
While Johnson said that Taylor “did exactly what he should have done, and that is report it,” he noted that a “proper investigation” is ongoing and he would not comment until it is completed. He instead offered a broader condemnation.
“Obviously, that is not the principles of the Republican Party. We stand for the founding principles of America,” Johnson said. “You want me to articulate them for you right now? Individual freedom, limited government, the rule of law, peace through strength, fiscal responsibility, free markets, human dignity, the things that lead to human flourishing.”
He continued: “We have stood against that. We fought the Nazis. We defended that evil ideology. We roundly condemn it, and anybody in any party who espouses it, we’re opposing that.”
Johnson’s apparent flub was quickly met with mockery from critics on social media.
“Epic Freudian slip,” the Lincoln Project wrote on X, pointing to the quote with the word “defended.”
Brett Meiselas, the co-founder of the progressive outlet, MeidasTouch, attached a meme of Sigmund Freud.
The House Majority PAC, which works to elect Democrats, called Johnson’s comments the “Freudian slip of the century.”
The press office account for California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) also weighed in: “You’re right Mr. Speaker, your party did defend this evil ideology this week. And it was sick!”
The account appeared to reference to a new POLITICO report into thousands of leaked messages among members of the Young Republicans, who joked about rape, slavery and gas chambers. Amid bipartisan pushback, Vice President JD Vance had said that he refuses to “join the pearl clutching” and encouraged Americans to “focus on the real issues.”
During the press conference, Johnson also defended the GOP’s approach amid a bitter standoff as the government shutdown stretched into its 16th day.
“This is not your grandfather’s Democratic Party. It truly has become the far-left, Marxist-left, that are running that whole operation. And it has real effects on real people,” Johnson claimed.
The Senate failed for the 10th time Thursday to advance a GOP short-term spending bill, which already passed the House, as Democrats have maintained that they will not budge on their own key demands, which include extending Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year and undoing cuts to Medicaid from President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” passed over the summer.
During a new interview with MSNBC, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said he is willing to “guarantee” a vote on a one-year extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits in exchange for reopening the government, but added that he could not promise it would pass. While Johnson said that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) rejected the plea, the Democratic lawmaker later said that he was never given a formal proposal.
Senate GOP leadership will also attempt to push forward a separate appropriations bill to fund the Pentagon for a full year. Democrats are poised to block the measure, as Republicans attempt to apply pressure amid the impasse.
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