House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has suggested he could leave politics if Republicans lose control of the House in November’s midterm elections, prompting speculation about his future that his spokesperson dismissed as “hilarious.”
Mike Johnson Floats Life Beyond Politics
In an interview with Fox News’ Aishah Hasnie on Thursday, Johnson said he remains focused on retaining the Republican majority and expects to continue serving as speaker in the next Congress.
However, when asked about the possibility of losing the House, Johnson avoided discussing whether he would seek another leadership position, including House minority leader.
“I’m not going to talk about the scenario where we don’t win the House, because I am laser focused on winning the House,” Johnson said, according to Hasnie, who shared excerpts of the interview on X.
Johnson acknowledged that a Republican defeat could prompt him to consider a different path.
“If God moves on our hearts and says we should, you know, go back to my hometown of Shreveport and start a lawn business, I’ll do that with equal fervor,” he said.
Johnson’s Spokesperson Dismisses Exit Speculation
Following this, Johnson’s spokesperson, Lance Trover, took to X and said, “All the DC speculation about the Speaker because he dared to speculate about his potential future in the lawn care business is hilarious.”
He also pointed to Johnson’s fundraising and extensive campaign travel to support Republican candidates nationwide, saying a manufactured narrative was overshadowing those activities.
Johnson Warns Jeffries Could Face Party Divisions
Johnson also targeted House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who could become speaker if Democrats win control of the chamber.
He predicted Jeffries would struggle to manage more left-leaning lawmakers, especially if members of the Democratic Socialists of America win House seats.
“It’s going to be very difficult for him to corral those folks,” Johnson said.
Trump’s Approval Hits Record Low As Democrats Lead
Johnson previously warned that Democrats would seek to impeach President Donald Trump soon after taking control of the House in November’s midterm elections.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed Monday showed Trump’s approval rating falling to a record-low 32%. Registered voters favored Democratic congressional candidates over Republicans by 44% to 37%, with the cost of living emerging as their top concern.
Johnson has led Republicans through a narrow House majority, making the November elections crucial to his political future. He has not announced plans to retire or leave Congress.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo Courtesy: Joshua Sukoff on Shutterstock.com
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