Speaker Johnson: 'Pick Up A Bible Off Your Shelf And Read It. That’s My Worldview'

On Thursday evening, newly-elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) sat down for an extensive interview with Fox News's Sean Hannity to discuss his election to second in line to the presidency, his vision for the country, and the upcoming agenda items that he will bring forth to the House floor.

One section of that discussion gained notable attention, with Johnson telling Hannity that he bases his worldview on his Christian faith.

"Someone asked me today in the media, 'People are curious, what does Mike Johnson think about any issue under the sun?'" Johnson said. "I said, 'Well, go pick up a Bible off your shelf and read it. That's my worldview."

Johnson also went on to explain the various principles in which he will be running the lower chamber. He explained that he would be following the "core principles of American conservatism." He explained that those principles are "individual freedom, limited government, the rule of law, peace through strength, fiscal responsibility, free markets, and human dignity."

"We're different. We're exceptional," he told Hannity. "The reason why we are the freest, most powerful, most successful nation in the history of the world is because that's what we stand for. And those values and those principles are under assault right now, and we have to defend them here every day with everything we have."

Speaker Johnson also explained the various priority items that will be taken up on the House floor in the coming weeks, including the various appropriation bills needed to fund the government by November 17th, funding for both Israel and Ukraine and the prospects of other legislation on abortion and other social issues coming to the floor.

On Ukraine funding, he has insisted that the funding for the war should be decoupled from funding to Israel and that Ukraine funding should be tied, as outlined in a plan by Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA), to concessions from the White House and an audit of existing funding.

He also explained that funding for Israel will be taken from cuts and will not simply be House Republicans printing money to send billions of dollars overseas.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who initially ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), spoke highly of Johnson on Friday, writing, "We passed a ceremonial resolution supporting Israel this week - no money yet under [Speaker Johnson] (though its coming). McCarthy wanted to lash Ukraine and Israel money together. Johnson says we will do them separate (that's not what Ukraine wanted!) It took 8 months under McCarthy before we passed *one* appropriation bill."

"Under Johnson - we passed our Energy & Water appropriations bill in one day. These are not the same," Gaetz wrote. "Wait and see on Ukraine. Don't forget that a majority of the majority is opposed to this in the Republican conference. I don't see Johnson rolling us with Democrats on Ukraine. But he is also very impressed with the [Rep. Mike Garcia] work product putting conditions on Ukraine and demands on Biden."

Speaker Johnson has, so far, impressed Republicans with his actions, and many hope that his record of success in his first days of office will continue for the remainder of the Congress.

Watch the full interview below:

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