As the US House of Representatives convened on Tuesday, its speaker, Mike Johnson, was notably absent, instead choosing to attend the criminal trial of Donald Trump in Manhattan.
Johnson, a staunch supporter of the former president, joined a cast of other high-profile figures, including the governor of North Dakota and several Republican representatives, in a show of solidarity. This unusual display of political loyalty has raised eyebrows, particularly given the vital business left unattended in the House.
Trump, facing 34 criminal counts related to hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels, has leveraged his trial as a loyalty test for supporters and potential vice-presidential candidates.
Mike Johnson Chooses Trump’s Trial Over Congressional Duties
Johnson, who has remained close to Trump despite their differences on issues like Ukraine aid, was joined by other surrogates, including Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur who ran for the Republican presidential nomination.
Ramaswamy, like Johnson, has been vocal in his support for Trump, decrying the trial as a “sham” and a “politically motivated assault” on the former president.
The charges against Trump revolve around the hush-money payments made to Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 election, which prosecutors argue constitute a form of election subversion.
Trump, who has been fined and threatened with incarceration for violating a gag order, has maintained his innocence and claimed the charges are politically motivated. His supporters, including Johnson and Ramaswamy, have echoed these sentiments, characterizing the trial as an “election interference” and a “weaponisation of justice.”
As the trial continues, the absence of House Speaker Mike Johnson has drawn criticism from Democrats, who have accused him of neglecting his duties in favor of political grandstanding.
Alex Floyd, rapid response director for the Democratic National Committee, mocked Trump’s need for “emotional support” from Johnson and others, labeling them a “saddest posse of Maga loyalists.” The spectacle has raised questions about the priorities of Trump’s supporters and the impact of their actions on the political landscape.
