House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) grimaced and shook his head at multiple points throughout Thursday’s State of the Union address, his first while serving in his new post.
The Speaker of the House and vice president are in the backdrop of every State of the Union address, and this was the first to pair Johnson with Vice President Harris behind President Biden.
It’s often a difficult position for the member of the party opposite the president’s, and this year’s address was unique given the political climate and Biden’s effort to go after his expected opponent in the presidential race this fall — former President Trump.
Johnson showed his disagreement with Biden’s speech with his facial reactions.
He was seen shaking his head when Biden mentioned the state of inflation and said it has been on the decline. Republicans are seeking to make the economy a pivotal point in the Trump-Biden batttle.
Johnson rolled his eyes and shook his head when Biden discussed his administration’s policy on the federal deficit.
Johnson also shook his head a couple of times when Biden criticized the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that then-President Trump signed into law in 2017. It continued when Biden slammed Trump for the increase in the national debt during his presidency.
Johnson sneered and shook his head “no” when Biden accused Republicans of wanting to put Social Security “on the chopping block” and granting tax cuts for wealthy individuals.
The Louisiana congressman appeared to roll his eyes when Biden blamed “politics” for stopping the bipartisan immigration deal that was reached last month to address the situation at the southern border.
“I’m ready to fix it. Send me the border bill now,” Biden said as Johnson appeared to almost chuckle to himself and shake his head in objection.
A number of Republicans throughout the address heckled Biden, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who wore a “Make American Great Again” hat to the speech.
Biden did receive an agreeing nod in his remarks on immigration from at least one notable Republican, Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), who was the lead Republican negotiator of the border bill.
The president mentioned that the legislation would add more than 4,000 additional asylum officers and create new policies so asylum cases can be resolved “in six months instead of six years.”
“That’s true,” Lankford said quietly to himself as he nodded.
Johnson remained mostly stoic during one notable point of the address when Biden declared, “we can proudly say the state of our union is strong and getting stronger.” He kept a smirk as Biden said the words but otherwise did not react much.
But Johnson on at least a few occasions did applaud for statements that Biden made.
He stood and clapped for the first time during the speech when Biden mentioned the civil rights march at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., that happened 59 years ago Thursday. Biden referenced the late Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Bettie Mae Fikes, who received widespread applause from across the political aisle.
The Speaker gave another standing ovation when Biden vowed that the United States “would not rest” until family members of U.S. citizens who are being held hostage by the militant group Hamas are returned home.
Biden’s early statement that “When Americans get knocked down, we get back up” drew Johnson to clap.
He also nodded his head when Biden mentioned the addition of new manufacturing jobs and the importance of improving the country’s education system.
“To remain the strongest economy in the world we need the best education system in the world,” Biden said.
Johnson also chuckled when Biden talked about how he had been told he was too young at some points in his career, having been first elected to the Senate when he was 29 years old. He then nodded when Biden said he has been told he’s too old.
Biden and Johnson shook hands and smiled at each other upon the end of his address.