House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) publicly distanced himself from President Donald Trump on Sunday, calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a “threat to America” and warning of a dangerous new alliance forming between Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea—what he described as a “new Axis” of hostile nations.
In an interview on CNN’s State of the Union, Johnson firmly stated, “I think Vladimir Putin is an old-school communist, a former KGB agent, and he’s not to be trusted and he is dangerous.” He added that these nations, including Russia, are aligning against the U.S. and that the situation under Trump’s watch could lead to severe consequences. “Let’s be crystal clear about that,” Johnson emphasized.
Johnson’s remarks followed a heated exchange in the Oval Office on Friday, where Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Vice President Vance clashed over U.S. support for Ukraine. Trump has been calling for an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine, but his warming relationship with Putin has raised concerns among some Republicans. Trump’s comments on Truth Social, accusing Zelensky of not being ready for peace, further spotlighted the growing divide between him and other members of his party.
While Trump has tried to play the role of a peacemaker, Johnson made it clear that he does not agree with Trump’s approach, especially regarding Putin. He expressed skepticism about relying on Putin’s promises, stating, “You have to have both parties at the table. To do that, you have to negotiate with both parties, and there has to be a willingness on both sides to bring it to an end.” Johnson underscored that Putin’s past actions show he is a threat to the U.S. and that America must be cautious in trusting him.
Johnson also weighed in on Trump’s recent statements about Putin, saying Trump should “verify” whether Putin will keep his word if a peace agreement is reached. He made it clear that he believes Putin is an adversary that must be confronted, adding, “I’d like to see Putin defeated, frankly. He is an adversary of the United States.”
The disagreement between Johnson and Trump reflects a larger divide within the Republican Party, as Trump’s efforts to push for peace with Russia have drawn criticism. This was further highlighted when Johnson was asked about whether Zelensky might need to step down to help resolve the conflict. Johnson suggested that Ukraine’s leadership needs to come to the table, but notably did not make the same remarks about Putin, showing where his priorities lie in confronting Russian aggression.
Johnson’s comments paint a stark contrast to Trump’s position, showing that while both may want an end to the war, they disagree on the approach to dealing with Putin and the broader threat Russia poses to American security.
