House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., rejected a question from CNN chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju about seating newly elected Democrats as a “nonsense narrative.”
While campaigning in Iowa for Republican Rep. Zach Nunn, whose seat is among those that Democrats are targeting ahead of next week’s midterm elections, Johnson fielded questions from Raju about President Donald Trump and the GOP’s political strategy during the elections and beyond.
“Will you vow to seat every Democrat who wins on Jan. 3?” Raju asked, referring to the day elected members will be sworn in.
“Of course, this is a nonsense narrative,” Johnson replied. “We are going to follow the law.”
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“What if Trump says it’s a rigged election?” Raju asked.
“Look, I’m a constitutional attorney. I’ve always been steady and consistent about this. This is going to be a no-drama swearing-in ceremony, but we’re going to hold the majority, and I’m going to be the speaker of the House,” Johnson said. “And when I administer the oath, there will be one on Jan. 3. We’ll administer the oath to everybody.”
Raju pressed Johnson, “If Trump says ‘Don’t seat them,’ you’ll resist, then?”
“I’ll do my job as the speaker of the House,” Johnson replied. “The president has vowed, of course, he wants to follow the law as well. That’s what’s going to happen.”
Johnson also defended Trumps involvement in midterm races, saying he is having “no drag at all” on Republicans chances.
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“Ive seen the voters on the ground, and Im telling you the polls are wrong, they are inaccurate, theyre underrepresenting Republicans and many of the pollsters have admitted that,” he said. “The polling isnt accurate, the Republicans arent responding anymore.”
Raju challenged that assessment, questioning why Republicans were spending heavily in traditionally Republican districts.
“You’re spending millions in deep Republican districts,” Raju said.
Johnson responded that Iowa is a state where Republicans “always win, but it’s close” and said battleground districts exist across the country, particularly following recent redistricting efforts.
“We have to win in the districts that are presented, and were leaving everything on the field to get it done,” he said.
Mary Marslender, a GOP consultant and former senior advisor to the U.S. Senate, criticized Raju’s questioning in comments to Fox News Digital.
“CNN is once again pushing a fake narrative â color me shocked. Instead of chasing a nonexistent ‘Trump wont seat Democrats’ story, Manu Raju should focus on reporting the news that matters,” Marslender said. “Americans are concerned about costs, wages, the border, and crime. If reporters covered those real issues, perhaps their audiences wouldnt keep shrinking. Speaker Johnsons answers were consistent with both the law and standard House procedure. Rajus repeated hypotheticals reveal more about the story CNN wants to tell than any actual plan to block lawmakers.”
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