Cleaning Up the Situation: Stefanik Emphasizes 'Productive' Conversation With Mike Johnson After Harsh Criticism Published by WSJ

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) emphasized that she had a productive exchange with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Wednesday, reiterating her position after The Wall Street Journal published harsh remarks she reportedly made about him the night before.

He certainly wouldnt secure the votes to remain speaker if a roll-call vote were held tomorrow. I think the majority of Republicans would support new leadership. That level of concern is widespread, Stefanik told the Journal. The report suggested she portrayed Johnsons standing among Republicans as precarious, pointing to issues including dissatisfaction with his decision to keep lawmakers in their home districts during the recent government shutdown, weak outcomes in special elections, and what she sees as a failure to address potential spikes in healthcare costs without a bipartisan agreement.

Kevin McCarthy was politically savvy, but Mike Johnson is still learning the ropes, and it shows, with House Republicans underperforming for the first time in the Trump era, Stefanik added.

Before the Journals story went public, Stefanik had indicated that tensions with Johnson had eased, tweeting about a positive discussion with President Trump and the speaker. She noted that a provision requiring congressional disclosure when the FBI initiates counterintelligence investigations into presidential and federal candidates would be included in the IAA/NDAA bill.

After her earlier remarks attracted significant online attention, Stefanik reaffirmed her appreciation for the conversation. As I mentioned in an interview this morning and reiterated to reporters, I had a very productive discussion with Speaker Johnson last night and shared my views that House Republicans must prioritize delivering results for the American people, she wrote on X. We achieved a major breakthrough on a key NDAA provision and are moving forward to address affordability and safety challenges affecting New York and the nation.

Author: Ethan Caldwell