Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is facing a firestorm after urging Americans who rely on food stamps and other social services to “come home” to the Republican Party — even as his own party slashed funding for those programs.
After the Trump administration was ordered by federal courts to continue paying SNAP recipients during the government shutdown, Johnson took to a press conference Tuesday to make a striking pitch to struggling Americans.
“I’ll say this clearly to every hard-working American, in any place who’s missed a paycheck, anyone who has been made to suffer because the services, the health services you rely upon, or the food and nutrition supplement for your family. Anyone who is hurting: You have a home in the Republican Party,” he said.
Johnson doubled down on painting Republicans as the champions of everyday Americans: “You have people here who are elected by their constituents to come and do their job, and they do it. They’re voting to support you, to make these programs available. To ensure that the people in need have them. And the Democrats, by stark contrast, are doing the exact opposite.”
But critics were quick to point out the glaring contradiction. Multiple polls have found Americans largely blame Republicans for the shutdown. Online, the pushback was swift and biting:
User @dentalfairie reminded the Speaker: “Republicans voted in July to cut $185 bil from SNAP.”
Amy Coplan wrote: “Then why does the big beautiful budget bill slash SNAP benefits?”
Jaythan Stormlight called out the disconnect: “Ummmm Mike? Your orange goblin of a president just said he was defying a court order to provide snap to millions of Americans. How again is the Republican Party helping people?”
Amy Joan Yuill added: “They’re not voting for ANYTHING because the dear leader won’t call the House back in session. This guy takes gaslighting next level.”
Other users likened Johnson’s remarks to historical paternalism. One tweeted: “He sounds like a Plantation owner after emancipation: ‘My friends, freedom is yours now, and with that freedom comes hardship. You’ve lost the comfort of our care, the shelter of our fields, and yet, we will not abandon you. No, you will always have a place to toil here.'”
The optics are further complicated by the fact that the House has been in recess for weeks, with the last vote taking place on September 19. Many Republican members have been instructed to remain in their home districts, while Democrats largely remain on Capitol Hill.
Johnson’s remarks come amid the shadow of the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” under the Trump administration, which slashed over $1 trillion from Medicaid and SNAP.
For many Americans who rely on these programs, Johnson’s call to “come home” to the GOP rings hollow, if not outright insulting. The contrast between rhetoric and policy has left the Republican Party scrambling to defend a message that many see as detached from reality.
Watch the clip below:
Johnson: Anyone who has been made to suffer because of the health services you rely upon or the food and nutrition supplement for your family, anyone who is hurting, you have a home in the Republican party. You have people here who were elected by their constituents to come do… pic.twitter.com/jlBsd6L2Hk
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 4, 2025
