House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is responding to jokes from President Donald Trump that the president has effectively taken over his job.
In a new interview with NOTUS, Johnson said that he has the hardest job “in the world,” navigating a small majority over Democrats in the lower chamber and the backlash that comes with it.
That includes GOP colleagues who criticize him, storm out of rooms, slam doors and block the key priority bills that he and the president want passed.
Johnson, however, told the outlet that he doesn’t take it personally.
“I don’t get my feelings hurt. I never do,” Johnson said in comments released Monday. “With leadership comes attacks and, you know, defamatory remarks and all. That’s just part of the job. You’re going to be criticized no matter what you do.”
Citing a Bible verse and the practice of “the ministry of reconciliation,” he added: “I don’t do this job for the praise of men. I do it because it’s a responsibility.”
Johnson also weighed in on the occasional pushback he receives from Trump, who has claimed that he has two jobs: being president and being speaker. The president previously appeared to reference his role in rallying the Republican caucus to align on legislative strategy.
“Some on his staff have said, ‘No, it’s really like you’re co-president,’” Johnson said to NOTUS of some in the White House. “Because the president and I speak all the time.”
But Johnson is now facing his biggest challenge leading the House come November: the midterm elections.
The GOP leader has insisted that Republicans will keep control of Congress — despite early polls showing Democrats hold the advantage and the historical trend of the party in power losing seats.
With his political future potentially tied to the result, the speaker told NOTUS that he hasn’t pictured the GOP losing. He has also dismissed the idea he would need to run for minority leader.
“We’re going to win, so I don’t have to answer that question,” Johnson said. “I intend to be the speaker going forward.”