Elise Stefanik Criticizes Mike Johnson as a 'Political Novice' and Questions His Ability to Become Speaker

Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) sharply criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) during a Tuesday interview with The Wall Street Journal, claiming he would not secure enough votes if a speaker election were held immediately. Stefanik stated, I believe the majority of Republicans would support new leadership. That sentiment is widespread.

In the interview, Stefanik portrayed Johnsons standing among Republicans as precarious, pointing to dissatisfaction over his handling of the recent government shutdown, poor results in special elections, and his perceived inability to address potential increases in healthcare costs without bipartisan agreements. She contrasted Johnson with former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, describing him as a political novice and noting the underperformance of House Republicans under his leadership.

The tension between Stefanik and Johnson has been heightened by a disagreement over a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act. Stefanik has sought to include a requirement for Congress to be notified when federal investigators open counterintelligence probes into presidential and federal candidates. She criticized Johnson for opposing the measure, claiming he sided with Democrats and blocked the provision to protect entrenched bureaucratic interests.

Johnson responded, denying Stefaniks accusations and stating he had attempted to communicate with her regarding the bill. Stefanik maintained her position, asserting that his denial was a tactic to undermine Republican priorities.

The conflict appeared to ease briefly on Wednesday when Stefanik announced via social media that discussions with President Trump and Speaker Johnson had resulted in her provision being included in the upcoming IAA/NDAA legislation. She described the inclusion as a significant step in addressing misuse of government investigations but emphasized that further efforts remain necessary.

Author: Ethan Caldwell