Former president Donald Trump recently backed Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) from attacks aimed at him by Trump’s base, including his son, during an interview on Monday via Mediaite.
It has been noted that while speaking with radio host John Fredericks, Trump fielded a question about the calls for Johnson’s ouster as a result of his support for foreign aid bills for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan that passed the House last week.
“Much of our MAGA base is upset with Speaker Mike Johnson,” observed Fredericks before asking Trump “How do you square this divide now between MAGA and Mike Johnson, with your support of him and our base?”
“Well, look, we have a majority of one, okay? So it’s not like he can go and do whatever he wants to do,” began Trump. “I think he’s a very good person. You know, he stood very strongly with me on the NATO when I said that NATO has to pay up, and they have to pay up soon and fast — and he has stood strongly on that. He agrees with that.”
“He also got some of the money in the form of a loan, quite a bit of money in the form of a loan,” he continued. “But it’s a tough situation when you have [a majority of] one. I think he’s a very good man, I think he’s trying very hard, and again: We’ve gotta have a big election. We’ve gotta elect some people in Congress, much more than we have right now.”
Trump defending Johnson comes as some of his most supporters in Congress and the media, including Rep.Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Steve Bannon, slam the speaker for having “totally sold us out.”
Donald Trump Jr., the former president’s firstborn son, has also denounced Johnson in recent days, charging Johnson with “giving Dems exactly what they want.”
“Enough already! If you ever even begin to start believing anything anyone in Republican leadership tells you just watch this. Pay close attention to those that don’t seem bothered by this. They’re not our friends,” declared Trump Jr. in one social media post accompanying a montage of Johnson speaking with music from Curb Your Enthusiasm playing in the background.
Enough already! If you ever even begin to start believing anything anyone in Republican leadership tells you just watch this. Pay close attention to those that don’t seem bothered by this. They’re not our friends. pic.twitter.com/rj2NMGBarg
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) April 18, 2024
