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House Speaker Mike Johnson picked up ABC’s Karl News Sunday over Secretary of Defense Pete Hensagon’s Pentagon Pretagseth’s Pentagon Presegs and Trump’s “NO Kings” across the country.
“Do you have any idea why the secretary of defense seems afraid to communicate with reporters who cover it?” Karl asked Johnson.
Hegseth is pushing for a new policy that requires reporters to agree to certain conditions in order to be granted access. Many news organizations are going back on the policy, with many journalists turning to their badges from last week rather than complying.
Johnson shot back, “Fear is not part of the Secretary of War, OK?”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican from Louisiana, speaks during a news conference at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on Oct. 15, 2025. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Karl argued that the Hegseths had two lines of pressure since leading the Pentagon.
“And they basically forced the Pentagon out of the building unless they agreed to sign a pledge that would make it difficult for independent journalists,” Karl said.
Johnson said the public recognition and Hegseth’s speeches and speeches showed his clarity.
“I can’t recall, and I don’t think you can, a secretary of defense who has ever been transparent, transparent, talking about priorities, policies and things,” said things.
Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth looks at reporters during a Pentagon news conference in Arlington, Virginia, on June 26, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Karl also pressed Johnson for his rhetoric about the Youthwindic “No Kings” Rallies about hating America.
“It’s just in this sense that these are ‘haters of America’ – and you didn’t just talk about anarchists, antifa advocates, the Pro-Hamas Wing – you said this modern democratic group,” said Karl. “But I don’t remember that long ago what you said after the assassination of Charlie Kirk when you said that we should look at the American people, not as our enemies.”
Johnson also pushed back when Karl said some of the speakers reminded him of Hillary Clinton’s famous words about President Donald Trump’s supporters. But he said he was trying to warn Americans about the modern democratic party.
“Look at what’s happening in New York,” Johnson said, referring to the rise of Zohran Mamdani. “They will be able to elect an open Marxist Socialist as Mayor of the largest city in America.”
Karl and Johnson also went back in time, as Karl wanted to know why the house was not in session.
“This house worked, exactly one month ago today on September 19. We passed a clean solution,” he said. “Democrats voted 11 times, without three Democrats in the Senate, voted 11 times to shut down the government and stop programs,” Johnson said.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson, Representative Lisa McCloin, and Representative Steve Scalese, left to right, during a news conference at the US Capitol in Washington, Oct. 16, 2025. (Al Dragon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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“If President Trump were king, the government would be open right now,” Johnson said at the same time.
