'I rebuke you in the name of Jesus': GOP rep explodes at Johnson in closed-door meeting

09 April

U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) arrives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 11, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard

NOTUS is reporting that emotions are running high in Republican meetings over a GOP budget threatening to add up to $5.8 trillion to the nation’s deficit and potentially raise the nation’s debt to 214% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2054

Republicans typically run on lowering national debt and the deficit under Democratic administrations, and a few of them are apparently having a difficult time switching gears for President Donald Trump, who also significantly raised the deficit under his last administration.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) met in a closed-door meeting with House Republicans on Tuesday, with a handful of lawmakers pressing Johnson to conference the House and Senate Republican budgets. Johnson allegedly opposes a conference because he is in a hurry to pass the budget. Johnson hopes to fast-track the budget through the Senates “reconciliation” process, in which budget-related legislation can pass with a simple 51-vote majority.

Parts of the budget, according to NOTUS, include an unpopular executive action agenda that halts funding for many public services and investments, while hollowing out and politicizing civil service divisions. In addition, it includes sweeping tariffs that the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities claims will “cost low- and moderate-income families hundreds if not thousands of dollars, more than offsetting whatever modest tax cuts they may receive from tax legislation.”

The rising tension between GOP members over the controversial budget and the recent battle over a petition allowing new mothers to vote by proxy is prompting Republican infighting. At one point, Rep. W. Gregory Steube (R-Fla.) called Speaker Johnson a liar and said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus!" according to three sources.

High tension could potentially alienate precious Republican votes. Johnson can only afford to lose four votes on Trump’s budget assuming unified Democratic opposition. Both he and Trump are aiming to prevent any further GOP defections.

NOTUS reports Johnson urged Republican House members to stay in town until the budget is adopted, possibly delaying a two-week recess slated for Friday.

Click here to read NOTUS' full report.

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