On a recent appearance on “Meet the Press,” Speaker Mike Johnson opened up about his perceived exclusion from negotiations between Democrats and Republicans concerning border and military funding bills. However, a closer examination of the situation reveals that Johnson’s absence from these negotiations may have been by choice.
During the interview with host Kristen Welker, Johnson lamented not being involved in the negotiations and expressed frustration at being left out. When asked if he had been offered a briefing, he replied in the negative and emphasized that he had been clear about the importance of specific bills in addressing the issues at hand.
Contrary to Johnson’s claims, CNN’s Capitol reporter Manu Raju shed light on a different perspective. Raju disclosed on a social media platform that Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford had been invited to participate in the Senate talks but had ultimately declined the opportunity.
Lankford reportedly explained that Johnson had been asked early on whether he wanted to be engaged in the negotiations, to which Johnson responded that the House had already spoken, referencing a particular House Resolution that had been approved.
The bill in question, known as the second House Resolution, has faced criticism from senators on both sides, with many considering it a non-starter, as outlined in Raju’s social media post. Lankford further revealed that despite his refusal to participate in the negotiations, Johnson had been loosely briefed on the talks.
In recent weeks, it has come to light that former President Donald Trump discouraged Republicans from passing any border or immigration bills, fearing that it would contribute to the success of President Joe Biden’s legislative agenda. Notably, this legislation marks a significant moment in recent political history, as it represents a rare instance of bipartisan cooperation between Republicans and Democrats on such crucial matters.