Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich offered kudos to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and his leadership as head of the Republican conference on Friday, admiring his patience while dealing with “idiots.”
Gingrich sparked laughter among the crowd while he spoke at the U.S. Capitol on the 30th anniversary of the “Contract with America,” a 10-point policy document he spearheaded in 1994 that is often credited with Republicans’ sweeping victories that year.
“I could never do what Mike Johnson is doing. … I can lead a charge. I am pretty good on offense. The amount of time he has to spend listening to idiots is beyond me,” Gingrich said, causing attendees to laugh.
“We were lucky because we had a large enough majority both times, 230 and 236, that you could have eight or 10 people go off the reservation and you’re still going to win,” Gingrich continued. “But you try it — when you realize there are at least 14 Republicans who wake up every morning and say, ‘I’m voting no, what’s the topic,’ it’s almost impossible.”
Former Speaker @newtgingrich: “I could never do what Mike Johnson is doing…I can lead a charge. I am pretty good on offense. The amount of time he has to spend listening to idiots…” pic.twitter.com/r5xxWRMfP7
— CSPAN (@cspan) September 27, 2024
Johnson is currently operating with a three-seat majority, one of the smallest in House history, which causes him to rely on Democratic support to pass key legislation such as spending bills, foreign aid, and reauthorizations for things like the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and the National Defense Authorization Act.
Within the last two weeks, Republicans have rebuked Johnson on the House floor. On Sept. 18, 14 Republicans sank a continuing resolution paired with the SAVE Act. When the measure was brought to the floor again on Wednesday as a clean stopgap spending legislation, 82 Republicans opposed it.
Gingrich praised Johnson for his faith as a Christian and the way he “gets up every day and endures it.” Gingrich served as speaker for four years before he resigned in 1998 under pressure after the GOP lost seats in the midterm elections amid GOP lawmakers’ push to impeach then-Democratic President Bill Clinton.
“If I was in Johnson’s position, I’d get people in a room and I wouldn’t let them go,” Gingrich added. “I’d just say, ‘We’re gonna keep talking.’ And we’re going to keep talking and we’re going to keep talking because you’ve gotta somehow learn to listen to each other.”
Several hard-line conservatives, like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY), have criticized Johnson for not listening to his right flank and allowing Democrats to bail the conference out when it comes to passing legislation.
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Greene went so far on Friday to say that the Republicans do not deserve to maintain their slim House majority in the House next year after the recent spending legislation.
“I share the anger and frustration, and I don’t think Republicans deserve to be reelected to hold the majority,” the Georgia congresswoman said on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast, adding that voters should cast their ballots for former President Donald Trump to ensure the GOP controls the White House.
