House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana told CBS News in an interview near Shreveport that he expects to keep leading House Republicans as minority leader if the party loses its majority in November’s midterm elections. “Heaven forbid, I don’t think it’s going to happen,” he said, while adding that colleagues would likely ask him to stay on even in divided government. The remarks drew mixed responses on X, where some commenters questioned whether he would actually receive the role.
In the video filmed near Shreveport, Louisiana, CBS News correspondent Robert Costa sits across from House Speaker Mike Johnson. He asks whether he would resign his seat if Republicans lost the majority, as some past speakers have done, or if he could serve as a tough minority leader.
Johnson responds that he intends to “continue to serve with my highest and best use to God in country” and that “if we lost the majority I don’t think that that position that I have would change. I think I would stay right there.”
He adds that he can “be tough, but we can be happy warriors,” citing his time as “one of the battle guys on judiciary,” his defense of the president in two impeachments, and his background as a constitutional law attorney.
According to the CBS News report of the interview, Johnson described a recent comment about possibly starting a lawn business in Shreveport if Republicans lost as “tongue in cheek,” and he stated he has “no intention other than winning this majority and serving as speaker.” The footage shows the exchange between the two men but does not include responses from other Republican lawmakers or details about specific internal conference discussions.
Viewers Weigh In on a Possible Minority-Leader Path
Some commenters expressed skepticism about Johnson remaining in leadership, with one writing, “imo, he will never get minority leader. If there’s a wave …it’s just as much because of him as anyone else,” and another stating, “You’re not that guy.”
Others focused on the idea of rewarding the current leader after a potential loss, including the remark, “Nothing like giving the job to the guy that just cost you the other job.”
At the same time, some users pushed back on assumptions of defeat, with one commenting, “Republicans aren’t going to lose the House or the Senate,” while others referenced his earlier lawn-business remark in a lighter tone, such as, “Damn it, I thought he was going to start a Landscaping Company!”
News coverage of the interview also noted that Johnson remains confident about holding the majority despite polling headwinds, and that some GOP lawmakers had previously indicated possible interest in alternative leadership options if the party loses seats.
It remains unclear whether the remarks will shape internal Republican discussions about leadership if the majority changes. The exchange continues to circulate as part of the broader conversation around the midterm elections.
