Newly-elected House Speaker Mike Johnson slams liberal media trashing his Christian faith after he was compared to ‘mullahs in Iran’ and dubbed a ‘Christo-fascist’
Newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson addressed the backlash to his hardline Christian beliefs, calling comparisons between himself and dangerous extremists “disgusting.”
Johnson, 51, has come under scrutiny in the week since he took control of the House of Representatives for his past comments, including calling same-sex relationships “inherently unnatural” and same-sex marriage “the dark harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy’.
He has since defended his views, saying that anyone who doubts what he believes should “go pick up a Bible… that’s my worldview.”
Left-wing media figures, including HBO host Bill Maher and former White House press secretary Jen Psaki, have criticized Johnson for his positions, with Maher courting controversy by comparing the speaker to Maine mass shooter Robert Card because they both “heard voices ‘.
In response, Johnson told Fox News that the criticisms don’t bother him because they “come with the territory,” but said such comments often contradict the principles that have shaped America.
Newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson said the criticisms don’t bother him because they “come with the territory,” but said such comments often contradict the principles that have shaped America.
Johnson and his family. Johnson, 51, has come under scrutiny in the week since he took control of the House of Representatives for comments including calling same-sex relationships “inherently unnatural” and same-sex marriage “the dark harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy ‘.
Johnson is an evangelical Christian who has proudly advocated his faith since being elected as the new president.
He fired a shot at MSNBC host Jen Psaki, Maher and other people who criticized him for his faith, noting that the attacks don’t phase him.
“The media hasn’t always been so kind to someone with a Judeo-Christian worldview, and in your case there were some things said: Politico interviewed a historian about your worldview, and this historian said you’re a Christian nationalist, it comes from from that of Christian supremacy,” Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany told Johnson.
She quoted Psaki labeling Johnson as a Christian “fundamentalist.”
McEnany asked what he thinks when he hears that.
“Look, there are entire industries built to take down public leaders – effective political leaders like me. I’m not surprised about that. I mean, it comes with the territory. It doesn’t bother me at all,” Johnson replied.
“I just wish they would get to know me,” he said, adding, “I’m not trying to establish Christianity as the national religion or anything like that. That’s not what this is about at all.’
He then talked about how the Bible commands people to show peace and love to everyone.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson speaks at an annual leadership meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition, Oct. 28, 2023, in Las Vegas
McEnany voiced criticism of Johnson’s faith in the media, including some from the Daily Beast, which labeled him a “Christofascist” who wants to impose his religion on others, such as the Taliban and the “mullahs in Iran.”
Maher’s comments comparing Johnson to the mass shooter suspected of killing nearly two dozen people in Maine because the shooter “heard voices” were also discussed in the interview.
Johnson said he found those comparisons “disgusting” and “absurd.”
He said: ‘Of course our religion is based on love and acceptance. So it’s absolutely outrageous to compare that worldview to the Taliban trying to destroy their enemies, or a deranged gunman killing people. And I think anyone who follows and believes in a Judeo-Christian worldview should feel terribly offended by that.”
He noted that he is prepared to face such attacks, adding that he will “take the arrows” and that he is aware that this entails a leadership role.
He said what bothers him is that such comments target people in the country and the principles that made America what it is.
“But what really hurts me is that it’s really a statement about everyone who believes in this, what the country was built on: our Judeo-Christian foundation is the heritage of our country,” Johnson said.