Mike Johnson's Calculated Ignorance: The House Speaker's Strategic Blindness to Trump
For years, covering House Speaker Mike Johnson has revealed a consistent pattern: a professed lack of awareness regarding former President Donald Trump's most inflammatory remarks. This behaviour, far from genuine ignorance, represents a deliberate political performance designed to preserve power and demonstrate unwavering loyalty.
The Recurring Performance of Unawareness
On a recent Wednesday, Speaker Johnson once again dodged pointed questioning, stating he had not seen President Trump's declaration at the World Economic Forum that "what we have gotten out of NATO is nothing." His response—"I haven't seen the president's speech, I look forward to seeing it"—echoes a familiar refrain. This incident harks back to the first interaction following Johnson's ascension to Speaker in February 2024, just days after Trump recalled telling a NATO ally he would encourage Russian aggression if contributions lagged. Johnson's reply then was a terse "Not going to comment on that."
Since that time, the Speaker's claimed obliviousness has become a running joke among late-night comedians and the Capitol press corps. He has pretended unfamiliarity with Trump's alleged birthday card to the late Jeffrey Epstein. More strikingly, this tactic extends beyond mere silence into active justification. When Trump posted an AI-generated video depicting himself piloting a fighter jet to dump waste on protesters, Johnson praised it as evidence Trump was "probably the most effective person who's ever used social media." He similarly defended a lavish Great Gatsby-themed Halloween party hosted by Trump even as his administration sought cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds during a government shutdown.
A Deliberate Strategy, Not Genuine Ignorance
The closest encounter with criticism came when Johnson was questioned about Trump using a disability slur against Minnesota Governor Tim Walz—an moment met with laughter from Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain. Yet even then, Johnson accepted Trump's underlying premise about welfare fraud in Minnesota. Through persistent grilling—whether en route to the House floor, in the Speaker's lobby, or at weekly press conferences—the outcome remains predictable: feigned ignorance or defence of the indefensible.
This performance serves a singular audience: the former president himself. For Johnson and much of the congressional Republican leadership, these press interactions function as loyalty tests. While former Speakers Paul Ryan occasionally criticised Trump's racist remarks, and Kevin McCarthy once blamed him for the January 6th riot, Johnson recognises no boundary he will not cross. His country lawyer demeanour masks a ruthless pursuit of power.
Political Acumen Beneath the Persona
Contrary to caricature, Johnson does not lack political intelligence. Recognising the gravity of the situation in Ukraine, he risked his speakership to pass aid, earning enough goodwill from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to survive a coup attempt by Marjorie Taylor Greene. Like fellow Southern Baptist Jimmy Carter, his aw-shucks persona belies a strategic ruthlessness—akin to following the biblical exhortation to sell a cloak and buy a sword.
His rise to power was itself a study in patience. After Matt Gaetz orchestrated Kevin McCarthy's ouster, Johnson bided his time as higher-ranking Republicans like Steve Scalise, Tom Emmer, and Jim Jordan faltered. Emerging as a conservative without the abrasive edge, his Southern gentleman style made him palatable to moderates in swing districts, all while retaining Trump's crucial blessing.
A Speaker Whose Power is Inextricably Tied to Trump
Johnson's authority is uniquely tethered to Trump in a manner unseen with previous Speakers. John Boehner and Paul Ryan cultivated independent power bases and could occasionally create distance. Johnson possesses no such luxury. He need only observe Trump's emasculation of Senate powerhouse Mitch McConnell, or the primary challenges faced by figures like Senator Bill Cassidy after voting to convict Trump. His sole mandate is to facilitate Trump's agenda.
Enforcing strict discipline across House and Senate Republican conferences, Johnson operates with a razor-thin majority of 218 seats—the exact number required to pass legislation. This precarious position demands absolute unity and brooks no dissent, lest it displease Trump and trigger the same retaliatory fate that befell Ryan or McConnell.
The Inherent Risks of Absolute Subservience
Yet this strategy of calculated blindness carries profound risks. Johnson has already faced revolts, notably on the release of Jeffrey Epstein files—where a discharge petition passed with near-unanimous support—and on attempts to curb health care subsidies. This perpetual "see-no-evil" act may ultimately jeopardise the very House majority that sustains his speakership. If voters conclude Congress is no longer an independent branch of government, they may empower Democrats to rein in the presidency. In such a scenario, Mike Johnson might finally encounter a situation for which his practised ignorance offers no prepared response.
