The following is the transcript of an interview with House Speaker Mike Johnson that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Sept. 14, 2025.
MAJOR GARRETT: The Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, who joins us this morning from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
MAJOR GARRETT: Mr. Speaker, you mentioned the word fear a moment ago.
MAJOR GARRETT: Mr. Speaker, several issues pending before Congress, not the least of which is keeping the government open.
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Listen, I do believe that desperate times call for desperate measures, and I think appropriate sanctions on Russia are far overdue.
This is the transcript of an interview that was broadcast on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” in September with House Speaker Mike Johnson. 14, 2025.
MAJOR GARRETT: Here from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, we welcome Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. I’m glad to see you, Mr. Dot Speaker. Thanks for your time. The responsibilities of speakership are never-ending. You are aware of that. Even though the speakers I’ve covered before are aware of that, they feel especially burdened following this week’s events. Mr. Dot Speaker, I would like to know how you are doing.
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Major, I am doing fine. I appreciate you asking. . The week was undoubtedly challenging for the nation. It was undoubtedly felt on Capitol Hill. To be honest, a lot of people are feeling a mix of frustration, fear, and sadness. It covered the country and the capital with a thick shadow. However, Major, I am certain that Charlie, my good friend, would not want any of us to be overcome by hopelessness. It was his message that we should move forward with courage and love. And I hope that’s the message that is carried forward in the coming days.
MAJOR GARRETT: This show rarely reports on statements made by Connecticut’s Young Democrats and Young Republicans, but they released a statement that has received a lot of attention online, stating that “such acts, regardless of political disagreements, have no place in our country.”. Will there be a way to create a bipartisan memorial to Charlie Kirk on Capitol Hill, in your opinion?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: It will be. On Wednesday, within an hour of his death, we prayed and reflected silently on the floor. On Friday evening, I took part in a sizable vigil at my alma mater, LSU, here in Baton Rouge. At the Kennedy Center on Capitol Hill, we will hold a large, hopefully bipartisan prayer and reflection vigil tonight. I’ll be leading a members’ reflection and prayer session on Monday evening. This will continue. I believe that the nation needs to see leaders who speak the truth and maintain composure in Congress and on platforms across the nation. Lincoln reminded us so many years ago that we should appeal to the better angels among us. Additionally, I believe that this is a true moment for America [TECHNICAL DISRUPTION]—in a positive way. Major, I believe that one way to achieve that is to emulate Charlie Kirk. He was driven by love for his fellow humans because he never harbored animosity toward the person on the other side of the table, even though he loved spirited debate and supported the free exchange of ideas and the bold advancement of truth. And I believe it would be beneficial to remind everyone of that model.
MAJOR GARRETT: Mr. Dot, Speaker, just now you used the word fear. In ways I have never seen before, members of Congress are speaking about it. They are conversing candidly. Events have been canceled already. Other members are discussing in their family discussions whether or not it is appropriate to run for reelection. How do you feel about the current state of unease among your Republican and Democratic members?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Yes, well, I have been discussing that with many of them over the past few days in an effort to ease their anxiety and reassure them that we will ensure that everyone has the required level of security and that the resources are available for both their personal and residential security. We’re considering every possibility for that. But also to be reminded that taking the initiative and taking the lead does require a certain amount of bravery. Indeed, it is a daily task for our first responders, military personnel, and public officials. However, I believe that if everyone adopts these practices and rejects the rhetoric, we will stop calling each other names and stop believing that policy disagreements pose an existential threat to democracy or the republic. Calling someone a fascist or a Nazi isn’t helpful, really. Look, there are some insane people in the world, and they are motivated to act when they witness leaders using such language so frequently these days. We must acknowledge that fact and respond to it suitably. Major, I’m encouraged to see that many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are speaking out against it and taking action. To use Charlie’s phrase, I believe this could be a turning point for the nation, and I sincerely hope it is.
MAJOR GARRETT: From your perspective, Mr. Dot Speaker, since I am aware that you had a lengthy discussion with President Trump, would that pivotal moment also apply to the White House?
PRESENTER JOHNSON: Obviously. Look, Charlie was well known to the President. To the Trumps, he was like a member of the family. He admired Charlie’s approach to public debate, and many of us felt a strong connection to him. And he has stated that in public. Charlie was a good man, and I believe that the best way we can remember him is to keep doing that, to challenge the status quo and maintain the free exchange of ideas while also improving the tone of those discussions. We must go back to that because, in my opinion, it best embodies our values, our Judeo-Christian heritage as a country, and our civil discourse.
MAJOR GARRETT: Mr. Dot Speaker, there are a number of issues that Congress needs to address, and maintaining the government’s operations is one of them. There is a press for other issues, but I understand that you would prefer a seven-week clean CR. extending tax subsidies for Obamacare. This weekend, Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, supported a push in the Senate for sanctions against Russia. Will either of those, in your opinion, do something to maintain the government’s existence?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Well, people on Capitol Hill haven’t really noticed it for a long time, but we’ve been working hard in the House to bring regular order back to the appropriations government funding process. But I’m heartened to see that our House Appropriations Committee has approved all 12 of the yearly appropriations bills in a bipartisan manner. Three people have been removed from the House floor. After the Senate passed a few, we decided to hold a conference last week [TECHNICAL DISRUPTION] –.
Major Garrett: — Alright, Mr. Dot Speaker, I think we’ve lost your audio due to a technical issue. We will take a brief break and return immediately to House Speaker Mike Johnson in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
[BREAK IN COMMERCE].
MAJOR GARRETT: Welcome to the Nation again. They interrupted my conversation with House Speaker Mike Johnson because technical gremlins are everywhere. Good to see you again, Mr. Dot Speaker. You had just finished responding to questions concerning potential sanctions against Russia, government funding sources, and Obamacare tax subsidies. Kindly proceed.
SPEAKER JOHNSON: I apologize for disturbing you there. Listen, we’re thrilled that we were able to get back to the regular order process and regular appropriations.
MAJOR GARRETT: — All right, but will we finish this? Mr. Dot Speaker, will those two additional items be included in the process?
PRESENTER JOHNSON: We’ll see. I was able to get everyone on board, but I believe we’ll need a temporary funding measure. A clear CR will give us more time to work through everything. Democrats have no real excuse if they don’t agree with that, so we sincerely hope they will. Shutting down the government would be their own unilateral choice.
MAJOR GARRETT: When South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham declares, as he did this past weekend, that sanctions against Russia are necessary… In order to gain economic leverage and put an end to the conflict in Ukraine, President Trump opened the door for tariffs against China and India. How do you feel about all of that?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Listen, the right sanctions on Russia are long overdue, and I do think that desperate times demand desperate measures. We’re willing to collaborate with the White House and our Senate colleagues in the House to accomplish that, and I’m personally eager to do so because I believe there is a tremendous appetite for it in Congress.
MAJOR GARRETT: Will Congress take action on its own initiative, or are you awaiting Presidential approval?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Congress can’t really do this on its own initiative because, of course, the President would have to sign any legislation we do. Thus, a partnership is required, but we respect the commander in chief. The President, after all, is a fearless and powerful leader on the international scene. We’re hoping he can use the same force and strategy to finally put an end to this war in Ukraine because he has mediated peace in other conflicts and around the world in a way that no one else has been able to. Everyone in America wants to see an end to the violence, and President Trump is making it happen. I am definitely [TECHNICAL DISRUPTION]–.
Major Garrett: Alright. To save you and our audience from more chaos caused by technical gremlins, we will be ending our conversation a little early, Mr. Dot Speaker. I’ve been informed that the technical issues keep coming up. Thank you for your time, Mr. Dot Speaker. We appreciate you being a part of Face the Nation.
