Trump Claims He Effectively Runs House, Belittles Speaker Johnson in Oval Office Meeting
President Trump reportedly told Speaker Mike Johnson and other lawmakers that he has "two jobs" — president and speaker — suggesting he is the one actually running the House. Johnson has repeatedly relied on Trump to secure votes from Republican holdouts and has directed GOP members to get Trump's approval before bringing legislation to the floor. The dynamic reflects tensions within the Republican caucus over the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches despite unified government.
According to sources cited by NOTUS and reported by The Independent, President Trump made remarks during an Oval Office meeting in which he claimed to effectively perform both the presidential role and the speaker's role, publicly belittling Johnson's leadership. Johnson, operating with an extremely narrow Republican majority that can only afford two defections on partisan votes, has become heavily dependent on Trump to persuade holdout members and has instituted a practice of requiring GOP members to seek Trump's pre-approval before advancing legislation. Some House Republicans have expressed frustration with this arrangement, viewing it as an abdication of legislative independence and the constitutional separation of powers. However, others have defended the close coordination as necessary given the slim majority and the fact that Trump must ultimately sign legislation into law. A White House official characterized the relationship as productive collaboration appropriate for unified government, while Johnson's office emphasized that such tension between branches is normal and that their working relationship has produced legislative results.
What different sources said
- The IndependentLeft
‘I have two jobs’: Trump belittles Mike Johnson in Oval Office humiliation where he claims to run the House, report says
Related
Putin and Trump Face Strategic Stalemates in Ukraine and Iran Conflicts
A Guardian opinion piece compares Putin's Ukraine campaign and Trump's Iran policy as examples of authoritarian leaders trapped in unwinnable conflicts. Both leaders are characterized as unable to admit strategic failure due to cult-of-personality dynamics that prevent acknowledging mistakes. The comparison highlights how authoritarian regimes prioritize saving face over pragmatic resolution of costly conflicts.
Bill Gates to Testify Before House Panel in Jeffrey Epstein Investigation
Bill Gates will testify Wednesday before a House Oversight Committee investigating documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, after appearing multiple times in Justice Department files released as part of the probe. Gates and Epstein had a professional relationship from 2011 to at least 2014 involving meetings, emails about philanthropic projects, and attendance at shared events, though their connection began three years after Epstein's 2005 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Gates has not been accused of wrongdoing and has stated the association was a mistake and that he was unaware of Epstein's abuse of girls.
One Nation raises over $610,000 in eight hours through 'Fire the Liar' fundraising campaign
Pauline Hanson's One Nation party claims to have raised more than $610,000 in donations within eight hours of launching a 'Fire the Liar' website targeting the Prime Minister on June 10, 2026. The fundraising blitz includes intimate fundraisers hosted by mining billionaire Gina Rinehart across multiple states, as One Nation's primary vote has surged past the Coalition in recent opinion polls. The rapid fundraising success has prompted scrutiny of the party's funding sources and spending, particularly regarding Hanson's relationship with Rinehart and taxpayer-funded attendance at private fundraising events.