October 29, 2024
In a statement to voters in Pennsylvania on Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) clarified recent comments from former President Donald Trump regarding a “little secret” between the two, explaining it as a voter mobilization tactic rather than a controversial or “diabolical” plan. Trump first mentioned this “secret” during his Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday, causing a stir among political circles and sparking widespread speculation.
Trump’s remarks quickly attracted attention, especially from Democrats who worried about potential implications. A New York Times article cited concerns from Democratic lawmakers, who speculated that the “secret” could suggest a backup plan involving Johnson, should Vice President Kamala Harris win the 2024 election. In the worst-case scenario, some Democrats worried Johnson might be involved in actions to disrupt the certification of the election results on January 6, 2025.
“It’s nothing scandalous,” Johnson assured attendees at a campaign event for GOP congressional candidate Ryan Mackenzie, adding humorously, “but we’re having a ball with this.” According to The Hill, Johnson continued, “The media, their heads are exploding. ‘What is the secret?’ It’s one of our tactics on get-out-the-vote.” He even joked about the speculation, playfully rubbing his hands together to mimic an “evil plan” to emphasize the harmless nature of the strategy.
During Trump’s rally, he teased the “secret” in his usual showman style, saying, “With our little secret, we’re going to do really well with the House, right?” Trump added, “He and I have a little secret — we will tell you what it is when the race is over.” His comments, delivered with a chuckle, were enough to set off a wave of responses from some Democratic leaders.
Among the more vocal responses, Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) suggested that Trump might be hinting at a “backup plan” for Republicans, should they fall short in the election. “There’s a lot of ability for a bad actor to mess with the Electoral College if he’s the speaker of the House,” Goldman said, noting that if Trump’s comment was harmless, “they should say so.”
In response to the escalating speculation, Johnson called the theories “absolute, utter nonsense” in a statement to The Hill, reaffirming his commitment to the rule of law. “I’m a lifelong constitutional law attorney. We’re going to respect the law. We’re going to follow the Constitution to a T,” Johnson said. “I’ve proven that over and over and over. So all this conjecture is actually hilarious to us, that people are apoplectic about this.”
A Trump campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, told Fox News Digital that the former president’s efforts involve straightforward get-out-the-vote initiatives, explaining that Trump has hosted numerous “telerallies” to connect with millions of voters in critical regions, which in turn strengthens support for GOP candidates in congressional races.
The back-and-forth around the “secret” underscores the heightened emotions and stakes of the upcoming election, as both parties vie for control in Washington. For Trump and Johnson, the focus remains on mobilizing voters, while opponents interpret the comments through a lens of heightened caution.
