Democratic Rep. Hank Johnson of Georgia called America “The Great Satan” under President Donald Trump — and said the phrase, popularized by Iran’s authoritarian regime to vilify the United States for decades, is now “entirely accurate.”
Johnson made the inflammatory comments on Sunday while discussing the Trump administration’s strikes on narco-terrorist boats attempting to smuggle deadly illegal drugs into the United States.
“Yeah, we are the world’s number one bully. We’re using our immense, unrivaled power to rule over those who have less power. And we’re doing it with impunity,” Johnson said. “This sends a shocking message to the world that America is indeed the, uh… what did they used to call us, the ‘Great Hand of Satan’ or something like that?”
“I mean, America under the Trump regime is demonstrating that that moniker was entirely accurate. The Great Satan, that’s what we have become in this country,” Johnson said.
“No longer can Americans say that we are exceptional. Not when you’re going around killing folks like that,” Johnson added.
Johnson never criticized former Presidents Barack Obama or Joe Biden’s numerous drone strikes against international terrorists. More than once, Obama authorized the killing of American citizens outside the United States with drone strikes.
The phrase “Great Satan” was coined by Iranian extremists following the 1979 Islamic Revolution and has been used by the Ayatollah and other anti-American regimes to characterize the United States as the root of global evil.
For decades, Iran’s repressive leaders regularly chant “Death to America” at rallies and refer to the U.S. as the “Great Satan.”
Johnson, who has served in Congress since 2007, is perhaps best known for a 2010 incident when he expressed concern that the island of Guam might “tip over and capsize” if too many U.S. Marines were stationed there.
Johnson has also previously compared Israeli Jews to termites and has sung songs claiming Trump was murdering democracy with his guitar at public events.
The congressman’s alignment with the Iranian regime comes as Democrats have increasingly surrounded themselves with anti-American talking points. Since October 7, 2023, progressive Democrats have rallied pro-Hamas supporters, with Rep. Rashida Tlaib calling for supporters to “globalize the Intifada.”
Conservative critics quickly condemned Johnson’s remarks as a new low for Democratic anti-Americanism.
“The leading lights of the Democratic Party are now openly anti-American,” wrote one commentator. “Democrats seem inclined to elect morons as long as they hate America enough.”
There it is: Democrat Georgia Rep Hank Johnson parrots Arab talking point saying America is “The Great Satan”
"America is indeed…the great hand of Satan — The Great Satan."
This phrase is widely used in Islamic theology. Our Government is infiltrated
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) December 9, 2025