Donald Trump appears to have added a surprising title to his White House résumé, at least according to him. The president reportedly joked behind closed doors that he is not only leading the country but also effectively running the House of Representatives, making the remark directly in front of Speaker Mike Johnson during recent meetings with Republican lawmakers.
Donald Trump Jokes About Having ‘Two Jobs’ In Brutal Mike Johnson Jab
According to a bombshell report from NOTUS, Trump has privately teased Johnson over the Speaker’s growing reliance on him to help rally GOP support and keep members aligned on key votes.
During one Oval Office meeting with conservative lawmakers, Trump reportedly quipped, “I have two jobs: being president and being speaker.”
The jab allegedly landed directly in front of Johnson as Trump continued to wield significant influence over House Republicans behind the scenes.
Trump Reportedly Tightens Grip On House Republicans
The reported comments come as House Republicans continue operating with an ultra-slim majority, leaving little room for internal disagreement. Over the last two years, Johnson has repeatedly turned to Trump to help secure support for the GOP agenda and persuade reluctant members to vote with the party, according to NOTUS. “[Trump’s] the one getting everyone in line,” one House Republican told the outlet.
The report further claimed that Johnson has, at times, deferred legislative authority to Trump by encouraging lawmakers to seek White House approval before introducing legislation.
Trump has also reportedly made calls to lawmakers while votes are underway, pressuring members to change their positions on the House floor in real time. Not everyone in the GOP appears comfortable with the arrangement. “It is a total shirking of responsibilities to the White House,” another House Republican complained to NOTUS.
The lawmaker continued, “Everything has to be preordained and pre-blessed, and there’s very little that we’re able to have our own will on. We should be empowered to pass our own priorities, not just follow what the mandate of the day is.”
Donald Trump Reportedly Left GOP Lawmaker In Tears During Heated Vote Push
Trump’s reported involvement in House negotiations has allegedly led to tense behind-the-scenes moments. Last year, the president reportedly worked the phones to persuade Republican holdouts to reverse “no” votes on a budget measure while lawmakers remained on the House floor. According to NOTUS, one call with Indiana Representative Victoria Spartz reportedly ended in tears.
The outlet claimed Spartz appeared visibly emotional while attempting to speak with Trump in the House cloakroom. After the conversation ended and she exited the room, Trump, who allegedly remained on speakerphone, reportedly said, “I have no fucking idea what she just said.”
Mike Johnson’s Office Responds To Trump Power Claims
While Johnson’s office did not deny the allegations outlined in the report, a spokesperson suggested tension between the White House and Congress is expected. The spokesperson said “healthy tension between the legislative and executive branches” exists while defending the Speaker’s working relationship with Trump.
“Speaker Johnson is proud to have a strong and productive working relationship with the President that has delivered countless positive legislative results for the American people,” Johnson’s spokesperson added.
Still, concerns about Trump’s influence inside the Republican Party continue to grow among some lawmakers. “In my adult lifetime, I have not seen an executive branch with as much input and influence over the chamber than this one has,” conservative Republican Representative Steve Womack said.
Report Lands Just Hours After Trump Abruptly Ended Tense NBC Interview
The NOTUS report also surfaced just hours after Trump made headlines for abruptly walking out of a tense interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press.” During a Friday sit-down with Kristen Welker in Wisconsin that aired Sunday, the president repeatedly pushed false claims that the 2020 presidential election had been rigged while also alleging California’s gubernatorial race was fraudulent.
As Welker pushed back and asked for evidence to support the claims, tensions between the pair escalated. “They’re crooked, just like you’re crooked, your press is crooked. And Meet the Press is crooked,” Trump said.
After Welker defended herself and continued pressing for answers, Trump doubled down. “You’re either crooked or you’re stupid. You play right into their hands with this crap. You know that these elections are rigged. Your network knows that they’re rigged,” he said.
The interview later came to an abrupt end when Trump appeared to lose patience with the questioning. “Let’s call it quits because I’ve had enough,” Trump said while removing his microphone. “Thank you, darling. Have a good time.”
When Welker reminded Trump she had traveled to Wisconsin for the interview, the president fired back one last time, saying, “I’ve sat in the rain with you for an hour. On and off in the rain, and I’ve given you enough time. You oughta straighten out your press.”