Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) strongly criticized Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and former President Trump’s joint press conference, denouncing it as rife with “outright lies” and misinformation.
In a Saturday appearance on MSNBC, Clyburn expressed his disappointment in the press conference held in Palm Beach, Fla., asserting that it would not seriously impact the ability of congressional Democrats to work with Johnson. He emphasized that the Democratic Party prioritizes the well-being of the country over any individual candidate.
Speaker Mike Johnson (Credits: Rolling Stone)
“We will always put this country over any candidate, and it seems as if the Speaker is putting candidate Trump over the country, of these United States,” Clyburn remarked, reaffirming the commitment to prioritizing the nation’s interests.
“So when it comes to preserving this democracy, moving an agenda forward to benefit the American people, we will set aside the politics and not worry about this press conference full of bad information, misinformation, disinformation, just outright lies, and that’s what they were doing.”
The press conference, which featured Johnson and Trump, disclosed legislation aimed at banning non-U.S. citizens from voting, despite such actions already being illegal. Johnson attributed the perceived issue to a lack of border security, suggesting that Democrats’ policies facilitate unlawful voting and influence the electoral landscape.
Trump (Credits: CNN)
Clyburn dismissed these claims, characterizing the press conference as an attempt to manufacture controversy where none exists. He cited research showing minimal instances of illegal voting over a 20-year period, undermining the narrative perpetuated by Johnson and Trump.
“You have a study done of 20 years of elections in this country and find out less than three or four dozen people voted illegally,” Clyburn pointed out. “Trying to create something out of nothing, but that will not deter us from doing what is necessary for the American people.”
Despite the efforts to sow discord, Clyburn emphasized that Democrats remain steadfast in their commitment to advancing policies that benefit the nation and its citizens, undeterred by baseless accusations and partisan theatrics.
