Yes, seriously. He did something completely out of character for the Speaker Johnson we know. It’s surprising. Still serious. It’s almost unbelievable. But in a way, it’s about damn time. Johnson just must have gotten tired of Trump. Yes, Mike Johnson. With gratitude to Raw Story:
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) skipped a White House meeting Thursday — and sources say it wasn’t an accident.
Two aides familiar with the cancellation told reporter Pablo Manríquez that Johnson flatly refused to attend, marking what may be the first time the Speaker has said no to Donald Trump.
That’s no small thing. Since taking the gavel in 2023, Johnson has been one of Trump’s most reliable allies on Capitol Hill — shepherding the president’s agenda through a razor-thin majority with near-total loyalty.
A CQ Roll Call vote study found House Republicans backed Trump’s position on 95 percent of votes in 2025, the highest presidential support rate ever recorded. Johnson, who sets the floor schedule, was the engine behind that number.
Yikes. 95%? That’s a lot that we never knew. But the big thing is that Johnson refused to attend. What is wrong with this picture? Apparently, he occasionally does have a spine. It’s probably dusty from being in storage for so long, but he does have one, and he’s using it.
A former White House official once summed up the dynamic bluntly: “Loyalty is always going to be chief among the things that Trump cares about, and Johnson has never wavered on that.“
Until now, apparently.
Observers inside Washington took notice. The Independent’s DC Bureau Chief Eric Michael Garcia framed the significance quickly: “John Thune being fed up with Trump is one thing. Mike Johnson is a whole other kettle of fish.”
Oh, yes, it is. Johnson just doesn’t do that. Or, well, it’s not something we are used to seeing from him. It’s a little hard to quantify, especially since this is apparently the first time he has done so. Seems like Johnson is getting tired of Trump’s nonsense, to be diplomatic. But it’s driving me batty. What happened and why now?
Garcia’s point cuts to the heart of it. Senate Majority Leader Thune has shown occasional friction with the White House — but Johnson has been a different breed of loyal.
There is no clear public record of Johnson ever refusing a direct request from Trump before Thursday.
Behind the scenes, Johnson has occasionally nudged the president quietly — most notably cautioning Trump officials against ACA subsidy extensions in a 2025 healthcare proposal.
But open defiance? That’s new.
What prompted the break remains unclear.
Or, clear as mud. Is the reason ever going to come out? Or is Johnson going to go back to his usual obsequious self when they return from Memorial Day break? There is absolutely no way to tell what happened without Johnson telling us, unless Trump blurts something out in public, as he is wont to do. It’s just so strange.
See you soon!
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