Speaker Mike Johnson Backs Trump’s Bold Moves, Says "Everything Is on the Table"
Johnson supports Trump’s aggressive policies, including mass deportations, firing of inspectors general, and conditions for wildfire aid.
DORAL, Fla. — House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., voiced strong support for President Donald Trump’s recent executive actions on Monday, asserting that the time has come for a "re-evaluation" of federal government operations, declaring, "Everything is on the table."
Johnson defended Trump’s decision over the weekend to remove 18 inspectors general from various federal agencies, suggesting that it was necessary to bring a "fresh look" to these roles. When questioned about Trump’s hardline stance on deportations, Johnson reiterated that voters had given Trump a "mandate to fix this problem" and reassured the public to "take a deep breath."
Regarding Trump’s recent call to overhaul or potentially eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Johnson, whose home state of Louisiana frequently experiences hurricane damage, acknowledged frustrations with FEMA leadership and agreed that Trump was justified in reassessing the agency’s effectiveness.
Johnson also expressed support for Trump’s remarks on withholding wildfire disaster relief from California unless the state implements voter ID laws. He described it as a "commonsense notion."
“There is a new sheriff in town,” Johnson remarked, just hours before Trump was set to address House Republicans at their annual issues conference at Trump Doral National in Miami. “I think we are entering a new era of government. When the president says he wants to make the government more efficient and effective, and we say we want to limit the size and scope of government, it means that everything is on the table for re-evaluation.”
Johnson emphasized that the current moment is an opportunity to reassess all federal policies, including those related to FEMA, and hinted that more government agencies could be scrutinized as part of this process.
As a prominent Trump ally in Congress, Johnson’s defense of the president was expected. However, he seemed particularly cautious not to diverge from Trump’s position, especially given that he was preparing to introduce him to the conference just hours later.
Over the next three days, House Republicans will discuss their legislative agenda for 2025, with a focus on renewing Trump’s tax cuts, reducing energy costs, and advancing strict immigration policies. Johnson revealed that the House Budget Committee would begin drafting a new budget as the first step in "unlocking and opening the reconciliation process," which will be key to fulfilling GOP campaign promises.
“This will be where the lion’s share of these campaign promises are fulfilled,” Johnson said, highlighting the "hard work" ahead as Republicans negotiate and find common ground on their legislative priorities.