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 mentioned 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 keep in mind not that way back what you mentioned after the homicide of Charlie Kirk if you mentioned that we must always view fellow Individuals, not as our enemies, however as our fellow countrymen.”
“I’ve by no means referred to as anyone an enemy,” Johnson mentioned, however claimed that “there have been numerous hateful messages” throughout Saturday’s protests.
“I imply, we now have video and photographs of fairly violent rhetoric calling out the president, saying fascists should die and all the remainder,” he added. “So it isn’t concerning the individuals, it is concerning 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 mentioned it was the complete Democratic Social gathering, however you and I’ve to acknowledge the fact,” Johnson mentioned 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 truth, and nobody can deny it,” he mentioned.
Mamdani has beforehand said he’s not a “communist,” as Trump has referred to 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’d not have been capable of interact in that free speech train out on the (Nationwide) Mall,” he mentioned.
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 performed already?
Johnson: As a result of that is the way in which the establishment works. I am following the Pelosi precedent, by the way in which.
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Karl: And what concerning the Johnson precedent? I imply, you swore in two Republicans the day after their election.
Johnson: I am pleased to reply. I am pleased 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 will all get again right here, I’ll administer the oath —
Karl: You would 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 cause 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 precise across the Structure for pardon and —
Karl: For certain.
Johnson: And commutation, in fact. We imagine in redemption. It is a private perception of mine. And I, , I hope Mr. Santos makes essentially the most of his second probability.
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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 mentioned, amongst many issues about George Santos.
Karl: Ought to that be a consider pardoning any individual 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 a minimum of he is open and clear about it. Joe Biden by no means informed us something. And admittedly, we’re not even certain he knew who he is pardoning on any a kind of issues.
How ICE is conducting enforcement operations
Karl: I wish to play one thing for you that (podcast host) Joe Rogan lately mentioned about how that is being undertaken. Take a pay attention.
Joe Rogan (host, “The Joe Rogan Expertise”): The way in which it appears to be like is horrific. It appears to be like — if you’re simply arresting individuals in entrance of their youngsters and simply regular, common individuals which have been right here for 20 years. That — everyone who has a coronary heart cannot get together with that.
Karl: Do you are concerned that these ICE raids are going too far, or a minimum of — or may go too far?
Johnson: I feel everyone is conscious of the optics, however I do imagine within the rule of regulation. And I imagine the American individuals had been alarmed that the, the, the border was vast 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 individuals which have been within the nation 20 years or extra with which have households. You realize, have Americans as youngsters, as spouses, which might be dealing with, , these fairly tough deportations.
Johnson: Yeah. And nobody takes any pleasure in that in any respect. What ICE has prioritized is the damaging, hardened criminals first. And there is in all probability a number 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 considerations about army operations within the Caribbean Sea
Karl: Do not you have got questions for him (Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth) about what’s taking place in Venezuela? We’ve got this buildup round Venezuela. We’ve got the, the concentrating on of those boats. I imply, you need to a minimum of have questions. I do know we now have questions.
Johnson: The concentrating on of the boats? You’ve gotten drug cartels bringing in fentanyl and boatloads of it that may kill doubtlessly lots of of 1000’s of Individuals. What we’re doing is restoring —
Karl: You haven’t any questions on how they’re doing.
Johnson: No, I imagine in peace by means of energy. I feel that the president and the commander-in-chief are answerable for making certain nationwide safety and the protection of the American individuals. And I feel most commonsense Individuals take a look at that and say “Thank goodness.”
