Exclusive: Johnson would call Trump before raising alarm on constitutional power
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Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La) said Wednesday at an Axios News Shapers event that he'd call President Trump before stepping in if he ever felt the administration's tariff policy had begun to encroach on Congress' constitutional powers.
Why it matters: Congress has ceded its tariff power to Trump for now, even amid economic turbulence. Johnson said Trump's tariffs are working and that he talks to the president "sometimes multiple times a day."
- "I think the executive has a broad array of authority that's been recognized over the years," Johnson told Axios' Hans Nichols. "If it gets close to where the imbalance is there, then we would step in."
- "But I think the first protocol, to be very frank, is I would call the president and talk with him," he added.
Zoom in: Johnson also expressed optimism about meeting Hill leaders' shifting and self-imposed deadlines for Trump's "one, big beautiful bill." The package would extend and add tax cuts, raise the debt ceiling, slash spending, and provide more border money.
- Johnson has been gunning to get the bill done by Memorial Day. The Senate has a new July 4th deadline. But Johnson acknowledged the real deadline will be the debt ceiling X date.
- It's unclear when exactly that would hit, but the most recent estimate was August or September. Johnson said he is operating on the possibility that it could come as early as June.
When a reconciliation package passes will ultimately depend on bicameral agreement. After it passes the House,
- "I hope [senators] don't do much to modify it," Johnson said, stressing there are "no secrets or surprises" over the legislation.
The intrigue: Johnson confirmed that he has told members that if he does not get to the promised $1.5 trillion in spending cuts in the package, they can oust him as speaker.
- "I've never lied to any of my colleagues, and I was trying to emphasize the point," he said.
Zoom out: Johnson also had a warning for Trump. If he loses the majority in the House next year, He said he expects Democrats to attempt to impeach Trump "on Day One."
- "They've already filed articles, and they're talking about it as recently as this week," he said.
