House Speaker Mike Johnson is scheduled to meet with former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday for a press conference on “election integrity.” The meeting occurs as Johnson navigates internal challenges and scrutiny over his leadership, notably regarding Ukraine aid support.
When NBC News inquired about the focus of his upcoming news conference with Trump, Johnson hinted, “You’ll have to see. I look forward to going down there.” On being pressed for details about “election integrity,” he simply stated it concerns “free and fair elections.”
Johnson’s visit aims to demonstrate solidarity with Trump, as the GOP faces internal divisions. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, critical of Johnson’s leadership, recently discussed her potential motion to remove him from office. Johnson and Greene held an hourlong meeting on Wednesday, April 10.
Amidst these challenges, Johnson contends with conservative opposition to extending a key foreign intelligence surveillance program, blocked after Trump’s urging. The bill in question would enable warrantless collection of communications from non-Americans abroad for intelligence purposes.
“I did not give him a red line,” Greene said, adding she is closely monitoring developments regarding funding for Ukraine and the renewal of FISA, which enables surveillance without a warrant and may inadvertently capture Americans’ communications.
