Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson defended labeling this weekend’s “No Kings” rallies opposing President Donald Trump as “hate America” rallies, arguing that he was not referring to Democrats themselves however the message of the protesters.
“Simply on this notion that these are, ‘hate America’ rallies — and also you not solely talked about anarchists, antifa advocates, pro-Hamas wing — you mentioned that is the fashionable Democratic Social gathering,” ABC Information’ “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl requested, referring to feedback Johnson made final week. “However I keep in mind not that way back what you mentioned after the homicide of Charlie Kirk while you mentioned that we should always view fellow People, not as our enemies, however as our fellow countrymen.”
“I’ve by no means referred to as anyone an enemy,” Johnson mentioned, however claimed that “there have been quite a lot of hateful messages” throughout Saturday’s protests.
“I imply, we’ve got video and images of fairly violent rhetoric calling out the president, saying fascists should die and all the remaining,” he added. “So it is not in regards to the individuals, it is in regards to the message.”
Pressed by Karl about Johnson likening anarchists, antifa and Hamas to the fashionable Democratic Social gathering, Johnson defended his remarks.
“I by no means mentioned it was the entire Democratic Social gathering, however you and I’ve to acknowledge the truth,” Johnson mentioned earlier than turning his criticism to New York Metropolis’s Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
“Take a look at what’s taking place in New York. They’re about to elect an open socialist Marxist because the mayor of America’s largest metropolis. There is a rise of Marxism within the Democratic Social gathering. It is an goal reality, and nobody can deny it,” he mentioned.
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