Johnson deflects questions about "little secret" with Trump
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Former President Trump speaks at the campaign rally at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 27 in New York City. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Former President Trump bragged about a "little secret" between him and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) during a rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, saying it will be revealed after Election Day.
Why it matters: Both Republicans have deflected when asked to address their secret after attracting headlines and raising eyebrows over the vague statement.
- There is some speculation that it relates to the GOP-led House determining the results of a contested election through a contingent election.
- Trump, who has already been assembling a series of excuses to reject the presidential results if he loses to Vice President Kamala Harris, has sown doubt about the electoral process since 2020.
What he's saying: "We can take the Senate pretty easily, and I think with our little secret, we're gonna do really well with the House," Trump said Sunday. "Our little secret is having a big impact."
- He added: "We'll tell you what it is when the race is over."
- Trump's campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in email Monday: "President Trump has done countless telerallies reaching millions of Americans across the country in key regions that also helps bolster Republicans in congressional races."
Asked about it Monday by Axios, Johnson wouldn't explain the secret, saying in a statement, "By definition, a secret is not to be shared – and I don't intend to share this one."
- He deflected by listing a series of allegations against Harris and Democrats, including about President Biden's health, Hunter Biden's laptop and Russian collusion.
- "It appears that all those secrets didn't matter to the media because they all helped Democrats. But this one might help Donald Trump, and now they care?" Johnson added.
Zoom in: "I suspect Donald Trump's 'little secret' plan with Mike Johnson is a backup plan for when he loses," Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) said on CNN Monday.
- Trump may try to go to the House "to throw out the Electoral College, the certification from the states" and have the House, under Johnson's leadership, try to overturn the election results, Goldman continued.
Zoom out: Johnson has said he expects he'll get help from a "fully supportive" Trump in a potential House Speaker race when the next Congress is sworn in.
- "I have a very close working relationship with President Trump and consider him now a close friend. I know that's mutual, and he tells me how much confidence he has in my leadership," Johnson told Axios in an exclusive interview this month.
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