‘That Is One of the Stupidest Questions You’ve Ever Asked’: Mike Johnson Gets Testy With CNN’s Manu Raju

 

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) snapped at CNN’s Manu Raju on Tuesday, blasting the congressional correspondent’s question as “one of the stupidest” he had ever asked.

“On Iran, you said repeatedly that this war was gonna be over soon,” Raju asked Johnson. “You said that this would be a temporary blip on gas prices. It’s been more than six months. People are getting hurt still at the pump. Should the American people not also judge you on your projections here that were clearly off base?”

“Manu, that is one of the stupidest questions you’ve ever asked,” Johnson clapped back.

“Why is that stupid?” Raju pressed.

“I have nothing to do with the prosecution of the war across the globe,” the House speaker stressed.

When the CNN chief congressional correspondent attempted to interject, Johnson put his hand on Raju’s back and said, “Hold on. Do you want me to answer?”

“You are responsible,” Raju continued anyway. “You are selling this to the American public, are you not?”

“So, should the House speaker be held responsible for the duration of the military conflict around the globe? You answer that question,” concluded Johnson.

“I mean, you called this a short-term skirmish. It is costing billions of dollars,” Raju noted. Johnson then proceeded to walk away.

Notably, both the House and the Senate passed measures in June to invoke the War Powers Resolution, instructing President Donald Trump to end the war in Iran, although the matter was not legally binding.

Not to mention, Johnson himself said in July of the conflict, “We’ve got to wrap it up.”

The clip of the heated confrontation aired on Tuesday’s edition of CNN NewsNight, to laughter from the panel.

“I don’t know. Does Congress have a role in declaring or authorizing the use of force against our adversaries?” the network’s Abby Phillip questioned sarcastically.

Watch the full exchange above on X, and the NewsNight panel’s reaction above on CNN.

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