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House Speaker Mike Johnson just said what we were all thinking

By: The Horn editorial team

Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., attended his first State of the Union address as House speaker. He sat behind President Joe Biden for more than an hour, and he made no attempt to feign a poker face.

In fact, Johnson grabbed attention with his facial expressions, and he became a surrogate for the audience.

When Biden said, “I want competition with China, not conflict,” Johnson looked at the camera to shake his head.

When Biden listed countries like “India, Australia, Japan,” Johnson looked away.

When Biden said that the previous administration “did nothing on guns,” Johnson rolled his eyes.

Johnson even went viral for his eyeroll.

One Twitter user said, “We are all Mike Johnson.”

Take a look —

Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley offered a bold theory about Johnson’s highly visible reactions to Biden’s speech. “I am afraid he may have practiced it in front of a mirror,” Brinkley told The New York Times, referring to Johnson.

House speakers usually sit beside the vice president during the State of the Union. Since every congressman faces re-election twice as often as the president, the House speaker can serve as a stand-in for the audience. Johnson, as a member of the opposition party, served as a foil during Biden’s speech.

Johnson remained seated for the entire speech, even as Vice President Kamala Harris kept leaving her chair to start standing ovations.

He clapped only occasionally. He applauded Biden’s promise to keep American boots off the ground in Ukraine, and he clapped during Biden’s reading a quote from the late President Ronald Reagan. The House speaker even left his chair after Biden’s sign-off: “May God protect our troops.”

Still, Johnson looked skeptical when it counted.

 

The Horn editorial team