In an exchange that managed to be both revealing and baffling, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) appeared to admit to concerns about Donald Trump’s mental state—only to dismiss them with a stunning and almost flippant defense.
The moment came to light thanks to video footage aired by MSNBC’s Chris Hayes, showing Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) confronting Johnson in a tense conversation on Capitol Hill. Dean was referencing Trump’s speech with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in front of hundreds of military leaders—a speech that raised more than a few eyebrows and red flags.
“The president is unhinged,” Dean said directly to Johnson. “He is unwell.”
Johnson didn’t deny it. He didn’t defend Trump’s mental acuity. Instead, he shrugged it off with a jaw-dropping retort:
“A lot of folks on your side are, too,” Johnson said. “I don’t control him.”
That’s a hell of a thing to say when talking about the man seeking another term as Commander-in-Chief. The man who stood before top military brass and called for the U.S. military to use American cities as “training grounds” and to turn their weapons inward toward the so-called “enemy within.” He also, during that same bizarre speech, veered off into a tangent about safely walking down stairs—again.
Dean didn’t let Johnson skate away.
“Oh my God, please,” she shot back. “That performance in front of the generals?”
Johnson’s defense? He hadn’t watched it.
“I didn’t see it,” he claimed.
Dean didn’t hold back.
“It’s so dangerous!” she said. “You know I serve on Foreign Affairs and Appropriations. It’s a collision of those two things. Our allies are looking elsewhere, our enemies are laughing. You have a president who is unwell.”
It’s hard to argue with her point, especially when even the Speaker of the House can’t bring himself to deny it—just divert.
And that wasn’t the end of the surreal exchange. Dean also brought up an AI-generated video circulating online showing House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries—who is Black—wearing a sombrero and a handlebar mustache. Instead of condemning it, Johnson reportedly questioned whether it was even offensive.
Footage posted by NOTUS confirms Dean’s account, including her incredulous response to Johnson’s question:
“Is it racist?” she said, repeating it aloud. “You put a sombrero on a Black man who’s the leader of the House? You don’t see that as racist?”
This isn’t just partisan sniping. These are serious questions about leadership, judgment, and moral responsibility. And Johnson’s responses—minimizing Trump’s behavior, pleading ignorance, and rhetorically dodging questions of racism—don’t exactly inspire confidence.
If the House Speaker does believe Trump is unwell but feels unable or unwilling to do anything about it, what does that say about the current state of Republican leadership? More importantly, what does it say about the future of American democracy when dangerous rhetoric and erratic behavior are treated as background noise?
Because at some point, “I don’t control him” just isn’t good enough.
Watch the moment in the MSNBC segment below:
