Transcript: House Speaker Mike Johnson on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Oct. 13, 2024

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The pursuing is simply a transcript of an interrogation with House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, connected "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that aired connected Oct. 13, 2024.


MARGARET BRENNAN: And we spell present to House Speaker Mike Johnson, who joins america from Benton, Louisiana. Good greeting to you, Mr. Speaker.

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE MIKE JOHNSON: Hey Margaret, large to spot you. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Sir, we cognize determination person been these 2 devastating hurricanes conscionable successful the past 16 days. You person visited immoderate of these catastrophe zones yourself. And Punchbowl News quotes you arsenic saying that Congress whitethorn yet person to walk an assistance bundle that could scope arsenic precocious arsenic $100 billion. Last Sunday connected this program, Thom Tillis, the legislator from North Carolina, said to america he'd similar for Congress to supply immoderate certainty by voting present connected assistance and past travel backmost aft the predetermination to bash more. Lawmakers aren't scheduled to travel backmost for different month. Why bash you deliberation it tin wait?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Well, it tin hold due to the fact that remember, the time earlier Hurricane Helene hit, made landfall successful Florida, and past went up done the states and coiled up successful Senator Tillis's authorities of North Carolina, Congress appropriated $20 cardinal further to FEMA truthful that they would person the indispensable resources to code contiguous needs, and truthful we enactment that into the coffers. I conscionable checked Margaret arsenic of this morning, little than 2% of that backing has really been distributed, close astir 2% of it, truthful we request FEMA to bash its job. That- those funds, that wealth is provided truthful that tempest victims tin person the contiguous necessities met. And past what happens aft each tempest is that the states person to measure and cipher the existent needs, and past they taxable to Congress that request. As soon arsenic that is done, Congress volition conscionable and successful bipartisan fashion, we volition code those needs. We'll supply the further resources. But it would beryllium premature to telephone everyone backmost now, due to the fact that these storms are truthful ample successful their scope and magnitude, it's going to instrumentality a small spot of clip to marque those calculations. In North Carolina, I was determination successful the worst deed areas astir Asheville with Senator Tillis and Senator Budd, Chuck Edwards, the congressman that represents that area, the devastation is broad, and radical were inactive being rescued 13 days retired from the storm. That was conscionable a fewer days back. So they inactive person a batch to do. It's going to instrumentality a agelong clip to marque those calculations, but Congress is acceptable to act, and we will. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, the FEMA Director says there's lone $11 cardinal near from that $20 cardinal that was allocated. So that's a antithetic accounting than this 2% you accidental was distributed.

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Yeah. So they've obligated immoderate funds, but they've lone distributed 2%, and erstwhile I was determination connected the ground, and you should go, I mean, bring the cameras and speech to the radical there, they'll archer you, don't- don't instrumentality politicians words for this oregon the administration's word, speech to the radical determination connected the crushed they had not been provided the resources astir 2 weeks retired from the tempest that they desperately needed. And erstwhile I was determination 13 days, post- you know, station the tempest hitting that state, radical are inactive being rescued. They're stuck successful the higher elevations successful the mountains due to the fact that the roads are down and each the rest. So they request every- each disposable assets and each hands connected deck. The rescue and betterment efforts are inactive going on, and past we code the remainder of it. But FEMA was dilatory to respond. They did not bash the occupation that we each expect and anticipation that they volition do, and there's going to beryllium a batch of appraisal astir that arsenic good successful the days ahead. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: But hurricane season, arsenic you know, past done the extremity of November, you're from Louisiana. You've dealt with this before. NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is forecasting this could beryllium 1 of the busiest seasons connected record. So wherefore not get up of this? Isn't it a spot of a gamble to wait?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: No, it's not. Margaret, arsenic I conscionable said, Congress can't conscionable and conscionable nonstop wealth connected a conjecture oregon an estimation of what the damages are. The mode supplemental catastrophe backing is provided is that, you know, the authorities sends successful existent needs. It's assessed by Congress and past handed retired that way. But again, remember, they person billions, tens of billions of dollars that were already sent to FEMA, 1 time earlier Helene made landfall. So they person plentifulness of resources. And successful fact, the medication Secretary Mark- Mayorkas said himself, DHS, FEMA is division- part of Homeland Security. He said conscionable a fewer days agone connected his telecast to the media that they person what they request close now. Everyone understands and knows much volition beryllium necessary. But if we conscionable successful a fewer weeks, close aft the election, erstwhile Congress is acceptable to spell back, that is astir the close magnitude of clip wherever we'll beryllium capable to grip those needs. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: And that $100 cardinal is simply a close appraisal that you made?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Well, look, that's my guesstimate. You know, I was connected the crushed successful the worst deed areas successful Florida. I went wherever Helene made landfall. Whole communities are wiped retired there. It's devastating. It goes each the mode inland. The cultivation areas are devastated by it arsenic well. And past you spell up to the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, it is simply a wide scope. As Governor Kemp said, successful Georgia, it was arsenic if a 250 mile wide tornado ripped done his state. So this is going to instrumentality immoderate clip to retrieve from. You mentioned, I'm from Louisiana. We're inactive dealing with the aft effects of Katrina astir 20 years later. So these are large ones.

And it's going to instrumentality a batch of work, but the bully quality is, you know, the heartening happening astir this Margaret, erstwhile you're determination connected the ground, you speech to the people, you're reminded of the American spirit, and radical propulsion together, communities, pulling together, churches, nonprofits, Samaritan's Purse, each the rest, they're doing bonzer enactment there, and it it makes you encouraged to beryllium among the people, adjacent successful contempt of that devastation, they're pulling together, and that's that's the large happening astir each this. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: We person immoderate caller CBS polling retired this morning, and it shows a bulk of voters bash spot their state's predetermination system. Only a 4th of voters deliberation determination volition beryllium wide fraud successful this upcoming 2024 election, but fractional of Donald Trump voters privation him to situation the predetermination results. If Harris wins, astir of the Vice President's backers privation her to judge the results nary substance who wins. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: You are the Speaker of the House, which means you are 1 of the officials with immoderate accidental astir the information concern starring up to January 6th and predetermination certification. Can you guarantee the country, we volition not spot the unit that this state experienced successful 2021? What are you doing to halt it?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Yes, I don't deliberation we'll spot thing similar that. I surely commune and anticipation that's true. There's a batch of large enactment that's been done astatine the federal, authorities and section level to forestall the chaos that ensued aft 2020. The Covid predetermination year, erstwhile each the states were changing their laws and regulations without the legislatures approving that. That brought up law questions. There were each sorts of concerns astir fraud and irregularity and each those things. The bully happening is, and I deliberation everybody should beryllium encouraged, that since that time, astir of the authorities legislatures went to enactment to enactment up their systems to guarantee that those kinds of things didn't hap successful the future. And I deliberation that that's going to springiness america a precocious grade of certainty, and surely anticipation that this volition beryllium a escaped and just and ineligible election. I deliberation everybody connected some sides should beryllium praying and hoping for that, and that's what I anticipation and expect. And truthful erstwhile we get to January 6th, arsenic you know, the Constitution, our laws necessitate america to get this done connected a definite timetable, and we will. Congress volition travel the Constitution. I warrant you that I've made a vocation of that. You know, I've demonstrated it implicit and implicit and implicit passim my life, and arsenic Speaker of the House. And we volition instrumentality attraction of this truthful everybody tin can person a consciousness of certainty astir that. Now look, determination are members connected some sides of the aisle who whitethorn entity to slates of electors. That is commonplace now. In fact, Democrats person objected to slates of electors aft each azygous Republican statesmanlike triumph this century. So there's thing truly irregular astir that. And erstwhile radical accidental that they've got to ticker it closely, they're saying that they'll bash their job. So– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: but backmost in–

SPEAKER JOHNSON: We're going to person the peaceful modulation of power. Yeah, I judge President Trump's going to win, and this volition beryllium taken attraction of. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: But backmost successful 2020 you supported a ineligible situation to the result of the election. The Supreme Court rejected that effort to situation it. Since then, the Electoral Count Reform Act has been passed. Are you definite that astatine the nation's capital, the lawmakers who you enactment with, won't beryllium challenging the outcome?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Look, we'll spot what happens. I tin conscionable archer you that we're going to travel the law, and we volition guarantee that our colleagues travel the law. The Electoral Count Act and the Constitution itself requires. The crushed for the objection in, you know, the past predetermination rhythm successful 2020 was what I referenced earlier, is that we had each sorts of changes to predetermination laws successful the states and choosing electors the mechanics by doing that nether nonfiction two, conception one, clause 2 says that lone the authorities legislatures tin take those systems. So erstwhile elections officials and secretaries of authorities and immoderate authorities tribunal judges and whomever the governors, erstwhile they changed their rules due to the fact that of Covid, they did it successful an unconstitutional manner. And that was an important ineligible question. The Supreme Court ne'er addressed it, because, remember, they conscionable rejected each that connected standing. But we're not re-litigating–

[CROSSTALK]

MARGARET BRENNAN: But 62, nary I'm not

SPEAKER JOHNSON: We're talking astir 2024-

MARGARET BRENNAN: Exactly, and 62 ineligible challenges, arsenic you know, failed with the Trump challenges to 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Yeah but not connected that basis, Margaret. Margaret, hold a minute. Wait a minute. Not connected that basis. That ineligible question is, I think, objectively proven to beryllium true. Obviously, everyone knows the legislatures weren't gathering successful 2020 due to the fact that of Covid. So it's nonfiction two, conception one, clause two, everybody google it and work it says lone the legislatures tin marque those rules. But look, I'm comfy to archer you that this year–

MARGARET BRENNAN: – But connected the information picture

SPEAKER JOHNSON: That's not an issue, right? 

MARGARET BRENNAN: On the information representation astatine the nation's capital, what measures are you taking? 

[CROSSTALK ENDS]

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Yeah. Look, we person an each hands connected platform attack connected this. The Capitol Police and the Architect of the Capitol and everyone person done bonzer measures. They've hardened the facilities astir the gathering to forestall thing successful the aboriginal from overseas terrorists oregon anyone other who mightiness privation to, you know, effort to invade the Capitol, okay. That's taken attraction of. But I deliberation the greater contented and the bigger communicative is that you've had truly large enactment done successful astir of the states to enactment up their systems and to marque definite that that we person a escaped and just election. Now look, arsenic President Trump says each the clip and I agree, our side, what we accidental astatine the rallies you've heard is we've got to marque it excessively large to rig. I deliberation that's truly important. I deliberation determination is going to beryllium immoderate cheating successful this election. I deliberation noncitizens are going to vote. Look, lawsuit successful point– 

[CROSSTALK] 

MARGARET BRENNAN: You cognize that it is against–

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Glenn Youngkin, the politician of the Commonwealth of Virginia

MARGARET BRENNAN:  The instrumentality for noncitizens to ballot successful national elections that's established law. 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Of people it is, of people it is, but of people it is. But here's the problem, there's a fig of states that are not requiring impervious of citizenship erstwhile illegals are noncitizens registry to vote. We cognize that's happening. Look, Glenn Youngkin successful Virginia, I was going to accidental helium issued an enforcement bid to cleanable up their voting rules heading into the election. Less than 30 days out, a mates of days ago, the Obama, I mean, the Biden administration, Department of Justice, Biden Harris administration, sued the politician and the state, the Commonwealth of Virginia, to effort to forestall them from cleaning up their elector rolls. Their elector rolls. See, that benignant of happening creates a batch of uncertainty and interest successful the minds of a batch of the American people. Why would they bash that? 

MARGARET BRENNAN: But respectfully, Speaker –

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Everybody should privation the instrumentality to beryllium followed 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Absolutely. respectfully, Speaker, you both, successful the people of this interview, said that you bash judge that states person taken measures that volition assistance the integrity of this election

SPEAKER JOHNSON: That's true-

MARGARET BRENNAN: – and past you conscionable besides look to undermine assurance successful the integrity of the authorities elections– 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: No, no. Margaret. Hold on. Wait a minute. Wait, hold conscionable a minute. It's not maine undermining it. It's the actions of the Biden-Harris medication and immoderate of these states. Noncitizens are not allowed to ballot nether national law

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: But the states person prohibited it. We passed the SAVE act. You know, successful the house, the SAVE Act says you gotta person impervious of citizenship earlier you registry to vote. And Chuck Schumer and the Democrats blocked that successful the Senate. We could person prevented this, the questions that radical person astir that, but the Democrats chose not to. They opened the borderline wide. A batch of radical theorize that that was truthful that they could person non citizens to vote. These are realities, Margaret. I privation it weren't true, but that's what's, that's the interest that radical have. And Wisconsin–

[CROSSTALK] 

MARGARET BRENNAN: – But, but. People tin person tons of concerns, but it is already instrumentality that noncitizens cannot ballot successful national elections.

SPEAKER JOHNSON: It is simply a law. That's correct, but we person to marque definite the instrumentality is followed. And that is the full point. That has ever been the full constituent of the SAVE Act and each the measures that we've tried to ensure. I believe, by my count, we person astir 16 cardinal amerciable aliens successful the state since Mayorkas and Harris and Biden opened the borderline wide. And due to the fact that of that, there's concern, due to the fact that those radical are distributed each astir the country, arsenic you know, there's interest immoderate of those radical volition effort to enactment successful the elections. Look, immoderate of our House races. I judge the Republicans are going to triumph the house, turn the location majority, triumph the Senate and the White House. But successful immoderate of our House races, I mean, I person a workfellow who was elected by six votes successful 2020. Some of these are decided by hundreds oregon a fewer 1000s of votes. So if you person non citizens participating against the law, and you person nary mechanics successful immoderate states to halt it. That is the basal of truthful overmuch of the concern. And of course, you know, successful California, they person ballot harvesting right? Ballot harvesting is notorious for opening the doorway for fraud successful Wisconsin, they're going to put—

MARGARET BRENNAN: — Mr. Speaker, you look to be 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: – In immoderate counties unmanned ballot boxes successful nationalist parks, again

MARGARET BRENNAN: Contradicting yourself. The states are tally by the authorities government–

SPEAKER JOHNSON: No. I'm stating the facts, Margaret.

MARGARET BRENNAN: – Not the national government.

SPEAKER JOHNSON: That's right. That's correct. And that's yea we anticipation and pray- 

MARGARET BRENNAN: So if your contented is with definite governors, shouldn't you beryllium talking to them?  

SPEAKER JOHNSON: We person been- we person been and the Republican governors person done heroic work. They've done their ain audits of the elector rolls to effort to guarantee and bash their champion work to marque definite that this is simply a free, just and ineligible election. We're calling connected each the governors to bash the aforesaid thing, Democrat governors arsenic well, and Democrat led states successful the legislature, they request to bash the aforesaid thing. A batch of bully enactment has been done since 2020, but there's inactive questions retired there. So what we person to do, and we person been astatine the legislature level, is effort to unit arsenic overmuch arsenic possible, elector integrity measures. Try to promote that that would beryllium taking spot successful each state. Because you're right, your constituent is good taken- these elections-- are are handled by the idiosyncratic states-- 

MARGARET BRENNAN: – But you're not convening Congress until aft the election, you said, Sir, truthful you won't beryllium capable to bash immoderate of what you are talking astir successful theory. 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Hey, Margaret, Margaret, we've been doing this for astir 4 years since the 2020 debacle, that's what's been happening. And the Republican led states and the Republican governors person done an bonzer job. Some of the Democrats person not. It has not been seen arsenic their apical priority, and that's the crushed for the contention and the concern. But again, I'm going to reiterate what I said successful the outset. In spite of each that, I deliberation it's going to beryllium excessively large to rig. I deliberation we're going to person a escaped and just and ineligible predetermination crossed the board. I surely anticipation and commune that's true. And I deliberation each subordinate of Congress joins successful that- that- that anticipation and concern. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, convey you for your time. We'll beryllium close backmost with a batch much Face the Nation. Stay with us.

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