Folksy Champion of Christian Right Mike Johnson Is New GOP Speaker
- Newly elected House speaker supports nationwide abortion ban
- Johnson is a fervent advocate of deep cuts in federal spending
House Speaker Mike Johnson introduced himself to the American public Wednesday by repeatedly invoking his evangelical Christian faith, signaling a political shift that will permeate debate on everything from abortion to the economy.
The 51-year-old congressman, best known outside his Louisiana district for his support of Donald Trump’s efforts to deny President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory, referred to the motto “In God We Trust” chiseled into the marble above the speaker’s rostrum and the carving of Moses on the other side of the House chamber.