Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson defended labeling this weekend’s “No Kings” rallies opposing President Donald Trump as “hate America” rallies, arguing that he was not referring to Democrats themselves however the message of the protesters.
“Simply on this notion that these are, ‘hate America’ rallies — and also you not solely talked about anarchists, antifa advocates, pro-Hamas wing — you stated that is the trendy Democratic Social gathering,” ABC Information’ “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl requested, referring to feedback Johnson made final week. “However I bear in mind not that way back what you stated after the homicide of Charlie Kirk once you stated that we should always view fellow People, not as our enemies, however as our fellow countrymen.”
“I’ve by no means known as anyone an enemy,” Johnson stated, however claimed that “there have been numerous hateful messages” throughout Saturday’s protests.
“I imply, we’ve video and pictures of fairly violent rhetoric calling out the president, saying fascists should die and all the remaining,” he added. “So it is not in regards to the folks, it is in regards to the message.”
Home Speaker Mike Johnson seems on ABC Information’ “This Week” on Oct. 19, 2025
ABC Information
Pressed by Karl about Johnson likening anarchists, antifa and Hamas to the trendy Democratic Social gathering, Johnson defended his remarks.
“I by no means stated it was the entire Democratic Social gathering, however you and I’ve to acknowledge the truth,” Johnson stated earlier than turning his criticism to New York Metropolis’s Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
“Have a look at what’s taking place in New York. They’re about to elect an open socialist Marxist because the mayor of America’s largest metropolis. There is a rise of Marxism within the Democratic Social gathering. It is an goal reality, and nobody can deny it,” he stated.
Mamdani has beforehand acknowledged he’s not a “communist,” as Trump has known as him. He identifies as a democratic socialist and has repeatedly claimed that label.
Johnson additionally argued the “No Kings” branding of the nationwide protests was ironic.
“If President Trump was a king, the federal government could be open proper now. If President Trump was a king, they might not have been capable of have interaction in that free speech train out on the (Nationwide) Mall,” he stated.
Listed below are extra highlights from Johnson’s interview:
On not but swearing in Democratic Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva
Karl: When are you going to swear in Consultant-elect Adelita Grijalva?
Johnson: As quickly as we get again to legislative session, when Chuck Schumer permits us to show the lights again on.
Karl: Why have not you completed already?
Johnson: As a result of that is the best way the establishment works. I am following the Pelosi precedent, by the best way.
…
Karl: And what in regards to the Johnson precedent? I imply, you swore in two Republicans the day after their election.
Johnson: I am comfortable to reply. I am comfortable to reply. Pelosi precedent — Pat Ryan. Joe Sempolinski. They had been elected throughout an August recess. So 21 days later, when the Home returned to common legislative session, they had been administered the oath. That is what we’re doing. We’re not in session proper now. Rep. Grijalva was elected after the Home was out of session. As quickly as we returned the legislative session, as quickly because the Democrats determine to show the lights again on so we are able to all get again right here, I’ll administer the oath —
Karl: You may swear in tomorrow, proper?
Johnson: No. Not tomorrow. No, we could not, we would not. There was an exception for 2 Floridians earlier on this Congress. However the purpose was they had been duly elected. They’d a date set. They flew in all their family and friends and the Home went out of session unexpectedly.
Karl: So if she flies in family and friends —
Johnson: We do not have a date set. She was elected after we had been out of session.
On former Rep. George Santos’ sentence being commuted
Karl: What do you make of that?
Johnson: The president has the fitting across the Structure for pardon and —
Karl: For positive.
Johnson: And commutation, after all. We imagine in redemption. It is a private perception of mine. And I, you recognize, I hope Mr. Santos makes probably the most of his second probability.
…
Karl: Is it OK for him to say, primarily, “I am pardoning somebody as a result of they all the time had the braveness — “
Johnson: That is not the rationale.
Karl: “Conviction and intelligence to all the time vote Republican?”
Johnson: That is one snippet of what he stated, amongst many issues about George Santos.
Karl: Ought to that be a consider pardoning any person that they vote Republican — or clemency?
Johnson: No, and I do not assume — I do not assume it was. No, I do not assume it was. I simply assume he is speaking about, this particular person and his previous, and not less than he is open and clear about it. Joe Biden by no means instructed us something. And albeit, we’re not even positive he knew who he is pardoning on any a kind of issues.
How ICE is conducting enforcement operations
Karl: I need to play one thing for you that (podcast host) Joe Rogan lately stated about how that is being undertaken. Take a pay attention.
Joe Rogan (host, “The Joe Rogan Expertise”): The best way it seems to be is horrific. It seems to be — once you’re simply arresting folks in entrance of their youngsters and simply regular, common folks which were right here for 20 years. That — all people who has a coronary heart cannot get together with that.
Karl: Do you are concerned that these ICE raids are going too far, or not less than — or might go too far?
Johnson: I believe all people is conscious of the optics, however I do imagine within the rule of legislation. And I imagine the American folks had been alarmed that the, the, the border was extensive open for 4 years, and by many estimates, as many as 20 million unlawful aliens get into the nation, lots of them hardened, harmful criminals —
Karl: What you are seeing folks which were within the nation 20 years or extra with which have households. You realize, have Americans as youngsters, as spouses, which can be dealing with, you recognize, these fairly tough deportations.
Johnson: Yeah. And nobody takes any pleasure in that in any respect. What ICE has prioritized is the harmful, hardened criminals first. And there is most likely a couple of million of these, OK? So they have been making an attempt to spherical them up and ship them again residence with nice success.
Whether or not he has issues about army operations within the Caribbean Sea
Karl: Do not you could have questions for him (Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth) about what’s taking place in Venezuela? We’ve this buildup round Venezuela. We’ve the, the focusing on of those boats. I imply, it’s essential to not less than have questions. I do know we’ve questions.
Johnson: The focusing on of the boats? You may have drug cartels bringing in fentanyl and boatloads of it that will kill doubtlessly lots of of hundreds of People. What we’re doing is restoring —
Karl: You haven’t any questions on how they’re doing.
Johnson: No, I imagine in peace via energy. I believe that the president and the commander-in-chief are accountable for guaranteeing nationwide safety and the protection of the American folks. And I believe most commonsense People have a look at that and say “Thank goodness.”
