House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) refuted claims that his opposition to a bipartisan border deal is aimed at bolstering Donald Trump‘s potential 2024 presidential campaign.
What Happened: In an interview with CNN, Johnson dismissed the suggestion that his stance on the proposed Senate package is intended to benefit Trump’s future political ambitions. When questioned by the host, Johnson firmly denied the insinuation, stating that his primary concern is the welfare of the American people.
"Are you simply trying to kill this to help him [Trump] out on the campaign?" the host questioned.
"No, Manu, that's absurd," Johnson replied.
"We have a responsibility here to do our duty. Our duty is to do right by the American people, to protect the people," he said, adding, "the first and most important job of the federal government is to protect its citizens. We're not doing that under President [Joe] Biden."
Despite refuting the allegations, Johnson admitted to discussing the legislation with Trump. The former president has also publicly criticized the deal, saying "zero chance I will support this horrible, open-borders betrayal of America."
Meanwhile, the Senate Republican leaders are also contemplating shelving the emerging bipartisan border security deal and instead proceeding with a separate bill including funds for Ukraine and Israel, according to Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
The proposed legislation would reportedly allow Biden to suspend asylum between official border entry points if migrant crossings surpass a certain threshold. The deal is also said to include aid for Ukraine and Israel.
Photo via Shutterstock.
Read Next: ‘DOGE Is Gonna Pop:’ Crypto Analyst Predicts Dogecoin On The Verge Of A Price Jump
This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.
