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Oh, what a tangled web we weave when House GOP leaders start throwing shade in public. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), the once-and-future Trump darling, just about called Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) a fibber on Tuesday over some alleged chitchat about the New York governor’s race.
And guys, this is the kind of Republican-on-Republican drama that makes you grab the popcorn.
Johnson, trying to play the cool boss, told reporters he’s been having “conversations” with Stefanik and her fellow New Yorker, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), when asked if he’d been jawing about the upcoming gubernatorial election with the two potential candidates. You know, just casual water-cooler talk about who might run the Empire State. No biggie, right?
Wrong. Stefanik wasn’t having it. She hopped on X, citing a Punchbowl News report about Johnson’s press conference comments, and dropped a truth bomb: “This is not true. I have had no conversations with the Speaker regarding the Governor’s race.”
When Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson’s camp for a response, his spokesman just pointed back to the Speaker’s post-presser remarks like a kid dodging homework. Johnson, trying to smooth things over, said, “I just talked to her. Elise is one of my closest friends. We haven't specifically talked about her running for governor, but all these other things. She's coming in to visit with me, and it's all good.”
This little spat is a jaw-dropping clash between two heavyweights in House GOP leadership, and it’s happening fresh off Stefanik’s return to her full-time House gig.
So, Stefanik ditched her House GOP Conference chair role and two plum committee spots on intelligence and education to prep for the U.N. job. But when that fell through, Trump leaned on Johnson to hook her up with a new top role. Johnson, ever the team player, named her chair of House Republican leadership.
Just days later, whispers started swirling—confirmed by sources to Fox News Digital and others—that Stefanik was eyeing a run for New York governor. And who could blame her? Albany’s a step up from the House’s knife-fight politics.
Then he got all warm and fuzzy, saying, “I love them both. They're two of my favorite people and most trusted colleagues. And, and they're both super talented, which is why they get talked about for doing other things… I mean, my preference is they all stay here with me, right. But I don't begrudge anybody for having other opportunities. And we ultimately support them in whatever they do. But, are we having conversations? We are. Yeah. And that's all I'm going to say about it.”
Translation: “I’m not spilling the tea, but yeah, we’re talking.” Too bad Stefanik’s out here saying those talks never happened. Someone’s story isn’t adding up, and this public dust-up is giving us a front-row seat to the House GOP’s latest soap opera.
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Johnson, trying to play the cool boss, told reporters he’s been having “conversations” with Stefanik and her fellow New Yorker, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), when asked if he’d been jawing about the upcoming gubernatorial election with the two potential candidates. You know, just casual water-cooler talk about who might run the Empire State. No biggie, right?
Wrong. Stefanik wasn’t having it. She hopped on X, citing a Punchbowl News report about Johnson’s press conference comments, and dropped a truth bomb: “This is not true. I have had no conversations with the Speaker regarding the Governor’s race.”
Ouch. That’s not a subtweet; that’s a public slap. She followed it up with a teaser, writing, “Looking forward to the conversation about [State and Local Taxes] with NY Members tomorrow. Stay tuned.”
When Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson’s camp for a response, his spokesman just pointed back to the Speaker’s post-presser remarks like a kid dodging homework. Johnson, trying to smooth things over, said, “I just talked to her. Elise is one of my closest friends. We haven't specifically talked about her running for governor, but all these other things. She's coming in to visit with me, and it's all good.”
All good? Sure, Mike, nothing says “all good” like your colleague publicly calling you out.
This little spat is a jaw-dropping clash between two heavyweights in House GOP leadership, and it’s happening fresh off Stefanik’s return to her full-time House gig.
Let’s rewind: Stefanik was all set to glide into the Senate confirmation process as President Donald Trump’s pick for U.N. ambassador. It was supposed to be a cakewalk. But the House’s paper-thin majority and some hand-wringing over who’d replace her in her upstate New York district threw a wrench in the plan. Trump, not one to let his loyalists twist in the wind, told her to forgo the ambassador gig.
So, Stefanik ditched her House GOP Conference chair role and two plum committee spots on intelligence and education to prep for the U.N. job. But when that fell through, Trump leaned on Johnson to hook her up with a new top role. Johnson, ever the team player, named her chair of House Republican leadership.
Problem solved? Not quite.
Just days later, whispers started swirling—confirmed by sources to Fox News Digital and others—that Stefanik was eyeing a run for New York governor. And who could blame her? Albany’s a step up from the House’s knife-fight politics.
When reporters pressed Johnson on Tuesday about whether he’d talked to Stefanik and Lawler about jumping into the governor’s race, he played coy: “I have lots of conversations.”
Then he got all warm and fuzzy, saying, “I love them both. They're two of my favorite people and most trusted colleagues. And, and they're both super talented, which is why they get talked about for doing other things… I mean, my preference is they all stay here with me, right. But I don't begrudge anybody for having other opportunities. And we ultimately support them in whatever they do. But, are we having conversations? We are. Yeah. And that's all I'm going to say about it.”
Translation: “I’m not spilling the tea, but yeah, we’re talking.” Too bad Stefanik’s out here saying those talks never happened. Someone’s story isn’t adding up, and this public dust-up is giving us a front-row seat to the House GOP’s latest soap opera.
If you enjoy my blog, feel free to toss a virtual coffee my way on Buy Me a Coffee – it’s like a high-five with caffeine! No pressure, it's your call.
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