Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) expressed his admiration for the Borg-Warner Trophy for the Indianapolis 500 on Tuesday, overshadowing the attention usually given to leading Republicans. Johnson humorously remarked, “I’ve never been upstaged by a trophy before,” as the prestigious trophy was paraded in front of him.
Despite the distraction of the trophy, Johnson has been dealing with discontent from fellow conservatives like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY), who have been pushing for his removal as speaker. Despite claiming to be the most conservative speaker, Johnson acknowledged the challenges posed by the political landscape and the differing priorities of his colleagues.
Criticism from Greene highlighted instances where Johnson’s actions did not align with a conservative agenda. Meanwhile, Massie pointed out three instances where Johnson’s decisions betrayed conservative principles, including passing spending bills, reauthorizing surveillance measures, and allocating funds without addressing border security.
At a press conference, Johnson expressed his exhaustion from the demanding responsibilities of his role, lamenting that he is not getting enough sleep. This statement adds to previous remarks where he has acknowledged the toll that his position has taken on him.
