‘Playing With Fire’: GOP Rep. Blasts Own Party as ‘Stupid’ Over House Speaker Crisis

Katie Francis
·2-min read
Mike Lawler on ABC's This Week.
ABC News

Republican Rep. Mike Lawler on Sunday bashed his own party over their treatment of House Speaker Mike Johnson, calling them “stupid” for considering ousting him.

Johnson only replaced fellow Republican Kevin McCarthy in October 2023, and now faces reelection on Friday—with many thinking he’s unlikely to be voted back into the role.

Lawler didn’t hide his admiration for “the most conservative speaker” in history, and told ABC’s This Week anchor Jonathan Karl that the GOP would be shooting themselves in the foot by getting rid of him.

“The fact is that Mike Johnson inherited a disaster when Matt Gaetz and several of my colleagues teamed up with 208 Democrats to remove Kevin McCarthy, which will go down as the single stupidest thing I’ve ever seen in politics,” the New York lawmaker said.

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“With that said, removing Mike Johnson would equally be as stupid. The fact is that these folks are playing with fire, and if they think they’re somehow going to get a more conservative speaker, they’re kidding themselves.”

Lawler gushed over Johnson’s conservatism, while also reiterating fears that President-elect Donald Trump won’t be inaugurated as planned if debate over the speaker simmers too far into the new year.

“Mike Johnson is arguably the most conservative speaker that’s ever been elected to the office,” he said.

“We can’t get anything done unless we have a speaker, including certifying President Trump’s election on January 6th. So, to waste time over a nonsensical intramural food fight is a joke.”

While Johnson unveiled a strong pro-Johnson stance during the segment, host Karl hinted that he didn’t see the vote going his way.

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Karl said: “So the house comes together, Congress reconvenes, in just five days on Friday. First order of business in the house is electing a new speaker. Despite what you heard Lawler say there, I think it is going to be very difficult for Mike Johnson to get the votes he needs to get reelected.”

Similar opinions from GOP members were shared with the Daily Beast earlier this month, after rebels within the party saw a spending bill ripped to shreds.

“People are not happy with him right now,” one Republican moderate said. “But without an actual replacement I don’t see how it could be serious.”

Another simply told the Daily Beast, “Johnson is f---ed.”

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