Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has sought to clarify his position following President Donald Trump’s incendiary remarks calling for the execution of congressional Democrats. This statement emerged on September 28, 2023, amid a growing controversy regarding the conduct of several Democratic lawmakers who suggested military personnel should disobey orders from the president.
Johnson characterized the Democrats’ actions as “wildly inappropriate” and defended Trump’s comments as merely a definition of the crime of sedition. He remarked, “That is a factual statement,” referring to Trump’s assertion that “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH” is a legitimate legal claim. Johnson noted that while lawyers might analyze the language of the criminal act, he would personally not have used Trump’s exact words.
In a candid exchange with reporters, Johnson stated, “The words that the president chose are not the ones that I would use.” His attempt to navigate the political fallout continued as he acknowledged he had not fully grasped the extent of Trump’s comments and reposts on social media. “Obviously, I don’t think that … these are crimes punishable by death or any of that,” he added. Johnson emphasized the importance of congressional members refraining from encouraging military personnel to defy orders, labeling such actions as dangerous.
The Speaker also addressed the specific remarks made by Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, along with Representatives Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, and Chrissy Houlahan, who were implicated in the controversy. Johnson condemned their behavior as “beyond the pale,” indicating that their comments warranted serious scrutiny.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune echoed Johnson’s disapproval of Trump’s phrasing, while simultaneously critiquing the Democrats. He stated, “I don’t agree with that. Obviously, everybody has a First Amendment right [but] what they did was ill-advised and provocative and unnecessary.”
Trump’s original post linked to a video of the Democrats discussing military orders, with the caption, “This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand.” In a series of follow-up posts, Trump reiterated the notion of sedition, calling for the arrest and trial of those he labeled “traitors.” His comments included, “An example MUST BE SET,” reflecting a heightened rhetoric that has drawn significant attention.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later attempted to downplay the implications of Trump’s statements, asserting that the president did not genuinely advocate for the execution of members of Congress. This clarification indicates an ongoing struggle within Republican leadership to reconcile Trump’s provocative language with their own political strategies.
As the situation develops, the implications of these comments are likely to resonate beyond immediate political circles, affecting public perceptions and discourse surrounding congressional conduct and the boundaries of political rhetoric.