Johnson defends calling anti-Trump protests 'hate America' rallies [View all]

Source: ABC News

October 19, 2025, 11:29 AM


Speaker of the House 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 but the message of the protesters.

"Just on this notion that these are, 'hate America' rallies -- and you not only talked about anarchists, antifa advocates, pro-Hamas wing -- you said this is the modern Democratic Party," ABC News' "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl asked, referring to comments Johnson made last week. "But I remember not that long ago what you said after the murder of Charlie Kirk when you said that we should view fellow Americans, not as our enemies, but as our fellow countrymen."

"I've never called anybody an enemy,” Johnson said, but claimed that "there were a lot of hateful messages" during Saturday's protests. "I mean, we have video and photos of pretty violent rhetoric calling out the president, saying fascists must die and all the rest," he added. "So it's not about the people, it's about the message."

Pressed by Karl about Johnson likening anarchists, antifa and Hamas to the modern Democratic Party, Johnson defended his remarks. "I never said it was the whole Democratic Party, but you and I have to acknowledge the reality," Johnson said before turning his criticism to New York City's Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/johnson-defends-calling-anti-trump-protests-hate-america/story?id=126658207

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He's nothing but a zombie with no soul, mindlessly parroting RW talking points that he is going to stick to... no matter how ludicrous.

At least there was a tiny tiny bit of pushback.