House Speaker Mike Johnson is apparently not worried about an Iran war that refuses to end, or inflation that refuses to come down.
In an interview with Fox News’ Peter Doocy on Sunday, the Louisiana Republican confidently predicted that his party will hold onto its House majority in November, even if the war with Iran is still raging by then.
“It would be helpful to get that thing resolved in the next 73 days,” Johnson said. “But if it’s not, we’re still going to win.”
That’s a remarkably confident prediction considering the political damage that could come from a prolonged war, particularly if Americans are still watching the conflict unfold while dealing with rising prices at home.
Johnson, however, insisted that none of that will matter come November.
“People know we took the head off the snake,” he said, arguing that the United States had to ensure Iran — which he called “the largest state sponsor of terrorism” — could not obtain a nuclear weapon.
“That was an objective of every administration the last 50 years. Donald Trump did it,” Johnson said.
There’s just one problem with that victory lap: the administration still hasn’t delivered the clean, decisive end to the conflict that its supporters promised.
Instead, the war has continued, and the administration has struggled to permanently bring the fighting to an end.
But Johnson isn’t letting that uncertainty get in the way of his confidence about November.
Johnson was also asked about a reported meeting between House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, ahead of the midterm elections.
The meeting, first reported by The New York Times, reportedly focused on areas where the two sides might find “common ground.”
The timing was notable.
The Times reported that the meeting suggested some people close to Trump recognize that Democrats have a legitimate path to taking back the House — and that Jeffries could potentially become speaker.
Johnson’s response?
“I know Jared, he’s a smart guy and he hedges bets,” Johnson said.
Then he delivered his warning to Democrats: “But I’ll tell you what, you better not bet against House Republicans.”
Johnson’s confidence is striking, considering how much could change between now and November.
The war could continue. Inflation could worsen. Voters could become increasingly frustrated with the administration.
And Democrats need to win only a relatively small number of seats to flip control of the House. Yet Johnson is already talking as though the outcome is essentially settled.
Johnson was equally dismissive when asked about rising prices.
Rather than acknowledge the political danger of inflation, the speaker insisted Republicans will retain control of the House even if prices continue climbing.
His explanation?
Johnson says Republicans have a “secret weapon,” just as they did in the last election.
That argument echoes the confidence Republicans showed in the last election, when they swept the battleground states and returned Trump to the White House.
Johnson appears to believe that same political “weapon” will work again.
