By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Speaker Mike Johnson’s engagement with current events appears to be selective, as he consistently feigns ignorance when faced with pressing issues. This tactic was evident when he avoided commenting on the Pentagon’s use of force and its potential release of video footage. This pattern emerged during the “Democrat Shutdown” and has continued through his term. For example, Johnson claimed not to have seen videos of a Presbyterian minister shot by federal agents, despite previously being asked about the incident.
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Mike Johnson has perfected the art of turning a blind eye, and it’s become a defining feature of his speakership. It’s almost comical how readily he deflects, claiming ignorance of events that are dominating the news cycle. If he hasn’t heard about it, or seen it, then he doesn’t have to answer the question. It’s a convenient tactic, but it’s not exactly subtle. The real problem, as many see it, is the media’s supposed reluctance to press him, to follow up and demand accountability. The narrative, as it’s being laid out, is that they’re hesitant, and perhaps even afraid of disrupting their access, and therefore, they are essentially complicit in the charade.
This isn’t just about a lack of awareness; it’s a deliberate act. The assertion is that Johnson is an active participant in a cover-up, that he’s intentionally delaying actions and taking breaks in the House to prevent certain information from coming to light. Some commenters go as far as to state that he’s part of a criminal cover-up, which is quite damning. He’s not just clueless; he’s an active participant, and a collaborator. The sentiment is strong that his actions are exactly what his party wants, that they’re all enjoying the lack of accountability, and that they’re all complicit.
The hypocrisy is a key point, especially given Johnson’s self-proclaimed Christian faith. Turning a blind eye to someone like Donald Trump’s behavior seems to fly in the face of what’s often claimed as Christian values. This willingness to ignore the obvious, to remain silent in the face of controversy, is interpreted as a betrayal of those values, and it’s what some see as the ultimate form of lying. It’s seen as the latest chapter in the history of doublespeak and deflection that has grown in politics over the years, the way of the “no-nothing” party.
He’s a lapdog, is the verdict, doing whatever the former president wants, so terrified of losing his position that he’ll do anything. The question is repeatedly raised: does Trump have something on him? Is he just too ignorant to see the trouble he’s creating for himself and for the country? The accusations are strong, with suggestions that Johnson’s priorities are completely misplaced, more concerned with appeasing billionaires than with the well-being of the nation. It’s a portrait of a man seen as a swamp monster, a disgrace, and a Trump sycophant.
The artifice that Johnson projects isn’t an art form at all; it’s just lying, projection, and deflection. It’s easy to see through. This is an era where the old rules of political behavior no longer apply. This is a game, and the rules are changing. It’s an issue of access, as they have traded their watch-dog status for a seat at the table years ago.
The suggestion is that he’s basically a low-level staffer, merely carrying out the Heritage Foundation’s agenda, and that, as long as Trump is following their plan, the House is essentially his. The media, it is argued, is obsessed with “both sides,” treating every issue as a matter of opinion rather than fact. Objectivity is being used as a shield, while the house is on fire. Those working in major news outlets won’t touch the word “conspirator” unless the courts decide it first, even when the evidence is clearly in front of them. The Jan 6th committee laid out exactly how deep the involvement went, but still, those who make the news, will not call him what many feel he is.
Johnson’s “I haven’t seen the tweet” response is seen as the political equivalent of “my dog ate my homework.” It’s a deflection by a man with hundreds of staff members, whose job is to keep him briefed on everything. It would be funny if it wasn’t so dangerous for the country. It’s a calculated strategy, a part of a larger plan to weaken Congress and give Trump more power. He speaks with such certainty when railing into democrats, yet is subservient to Trump. There’s only one conclusion: he knows what he’s doing.