'Nope!' Mike Johnson shut down by NBC host after repeating false election claims
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was promptly shut down Sunday by NBC News’ Kristen Welker after attempting to repeat false claims about Georgia voter fraud in the 2020 election, claims that Welker didn’t hesitate to remind the top Republican had been thoroughly debunked.
Appearing on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Johnson was asked to comment on fears that President Donald Trump may “meddle in the 2026 midterm elections,” fears that have only been exacerbated after the recent FBI raid on a Georgia election office that has been at the center of Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was “rigged.”
Johnson said he found such fears to be “comical,” citing Georgia, falsely, as “example A” of “schemes in elections.”
Welker pushed back, reminding Johnson that there had been two statewide recounts in Georgia that produced no evidence of widespread voter fraud. Undeterred, Johnson continued to float the idea that the 2020 election in Georgia was plagued with “problems,” while also choosing his words carefully in an apparent attempt to not make explicit claims of voter fraud that could later be used against him.
“They sent mail-out ballets to everyone, everyone knows all of the problems that occurred in Georgia, it was very controversial and remains so to this day because of all the things that happened there,” Johnson said.
“Again, we’re not going to relitigate that, but what we have to focus on going forward is to ensure that there are not questions about the elections, and that’s why Republicans are working at the federal and state levels to clean those things up.”
Again, Welker pushed back.
“But there are really no questions about election integrity from 2020 that have not been asked and answered,” she said.
Johnson, shaking his head, dismissed Welker’s remarks, telling her “that’s your opinion!”
Welker jumped in again to correct the record, cutting off the House speaker to remind him that his suggestions were at odds with Georgia’s Republican governor Brian Kemp.
“No! Nope, the Republican-led governor has pointed out it’s been years and no one has ever come forward under oath with evidence of fraud in Georgia,” Welker clapped back.