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Snapshot 4:Wed, May 15, 2024 4:44:45 AM GMT last edited by Scott

Speaker Johnson Among GOP Supporters at NY Trump Trial

Speaker Johnson Among GOP Supporters at NY Trump Trial

Image copyright: David Dee Delgado/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

  • US House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Tuesday became the latest prominent member of the GOP to appear at the Manhattan courthouse where the criminal trial of former Pres. Donald Trump has been taking place for a couple weeks.

  • US House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Tuesday became the latest prominent member of the GOP to appear at the Manhattan courthouse where the criminal trial of former Pres. Donald Trump has been taking place for roughly the past two weeks.


The Spin

Republicans in Congress seemingly consider themselves to be Trump's unofficial law firm, so it's no surprise Johnson would journey to New York to show fealty to the presumptive GOP nominee and the MAGA base. Johnson has proven his devout religious faith surpassed by his steadfast loyalty to Trump, who helped Johnson fend off a challenge to his speakership earlier this month.

It's crucial for Trump's supporters to speak out about this politically motivated prosecution by the Democrats while Trump is limited by the partisan judge's gag order. Everyone involved in this bad-faith trial is a Democrat and it's obvious they're trying to keep Trump from campaigning and returning to the White House. The GOP is showing solidarity in the face of the Democrats' weaponized use of the legal system.

When it comes to Johnson, his true motivations need further critique. He may say he's opposed to this politically motivated trial and the other Democratic lawfare cases against Trump, but the Speaker has said he won't take the steps necessary to defund the federal cases against the former president. Johnson seems to only show support for Trump and the MAGA movement when he deems it beneficial to himself.


Metaculus Prediction


Public figures in this story



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