Politics
Biden warns new speaker: you ‘can’t’ overturn 2024 election
By Jake Beardslee · October 25, 2023
In brief…
- House elected Mike Johnson as Speaker after weeks of GOP infighting
- In 2020, Johnson pushed false theories and legally challenged Biden's election win
- Biden dismissed concerns Johnson would try to overturn 2024 election results
- Biden said Johnson "can't" invalidate a future election, like Trump failed to do
On Wednesday, President Biden dismissed concerns that newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) may attempt to overturn the 2024 election results should Biden win reelection. Johnson was a leader in former President Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 election.
During a press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a reporter asked Biden if he was worried Johnson would try to invalidate the 2024 election results. “No,” Biden responded plainly. “He can’t. Just like I was not worried that the last guy would be able to overturn the election. They had about 60 lawsuits that went all the way to the Supreme Court, and every time they lost. I understand the Constitution.”
The House elected Johnson as Speaker on Wednesday, ending three chaotic weeks that paralyzed the chamber after Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) failed to secure enough Republican votes. Johnson emerged in 2020 as a key figure in Trump’s attempts to overturn the presidential election results. As vice chair of the House Republican conference at the time, Johnson led a legal brief supporting a lawsuit by Texas that sought to reverse the election results in four battleground states won by Biden.
When asked Tuesday about his efforts to challenge the 2020 election, Johnson dismissed the question and was defended by surrounding Republican lawmakers. Johnson brushed off concerns he would take similar actions regarding the 2024 election results. Biden expressed confidence Johnson would be unable to successfully overturn the next presidential election.