Mike Johnson Claims ‘Who Won The 2020 Election’ Is A ‘Gotcha’ Question | HuffPost Latest News




Skip to Main Content×Main MenuU.S. EditionNewsU.S. NewsWorld NewsBusinessEnvironmentHealthSocial JusticeCrimePoliticsCongressExtremismOpinionEntertainmentCulture & ArtsMediaCelebrityTV & FilmBooksLifeWellnessTravelTechStyle & BeautyFood & DrinkParentingRelationshipsMoneyHome & LivingWork/LifeShoppingVoicesBlack VoicesQueer VoicesLatino VoicesIndigenous VoicesAsian VoicesWomen's VoicesHuffPost PersonalNEW: GamesHoroscopesVideoFrom Our PartnersMy 5-To-9NewslettersInternationalU.S.U.K.EspañaFranceΕλλάδα (Greece)Italia日本 (Japan)한국 (Korea)Follow UsTerms | Privacy PolicyPart of HuffPost Politics. ©2025 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved.×What's Hot



Log InGo Ad-FreeNEWSPOLITICSENTERTAINMENTLIFEPERSONALVOICESSHOPPINGGAMESU.S. EditionOpen editions submenuPolitics2020 electionMike JohnsonMike Johnson Claims ‘Who Won The 2020 Election’ Is A ‘Gotcha’ QuestionThe House speaker declining to say Trump lost the election echoes JD Vance's "damning non-answer" during last week's vice presidential debate.By Sanjana KaranthReporter, HuffPostOct 6, 2024, 12:39 PM EDTLEAVE A COMMENTLOADINGERROR LOADINGHouse Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) echoed Sen. JD Vance’s answer during last week’s debate with his vice presidential opponent Tim Walz, claiming that the media asking whether Donald Trump lost the 2020 election is somehow a “gotcha” question.On Sunday, George Stephanopoulos asked Johnson whether he can “unequivocally” say that Biden won the 2020 election and that Trump lost. The long-debunked election conspiracy is something that the former president continues to bring up at his campaign rallies, even a month before the 2024 election.Advertisement

“See, this is the game that is always played by mainstream media with leading Republicans. It’s a gotcha game,” Johnson said on ABC’s “This Week.” “You want us to litigate things that happened four years ago when we’re talking about the future. We’re not gonna talk about what happened in 2020, we’re gonna talk about 2024 and how we’re gonna solve the problems for the American people.”“I think this thing, this game that’s played all the time, I’m not gonna engage in it,” he continued.STEPHANOPOULOS: Can you say unequivocally that Joe Biden won the 2020 election and Trump lost? MIKE JOHNSON: See, this is the game that is always played by mainstream media with mainstream Republicans. It's a gotcha game. STEPHANOPOULOS: So like Vance, you can't say… pic.twitter.com/0vFnZHi4a3— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 6, 2024Advertisement

The answer was virtually the same as last Tuesday’s debate, when the Minnesota governor asked his Republican opponent from Ohio about whether he believes Trump won in 2020, referring to comments Vance made earlier this year that questioned the election’s results. Vance avoided answering the questioning, only saying he’s “focused on the future.” “That’s a damning non-answer,” Walz responded. “I’m pretty shocked by this. [Trump] lost the election, this is not a debate. It’s not anything anywhere other than in Donald Trump’s world.”Go Ad-Free — And Protect The Free PressThe next four years will change America forever. But HuffPost won't back down when it comes to providing free and impartial journalism.For the first time, we're offering an ad-free experience to qualifying contributors who support our fearless newsroom. We hope you'll join us.You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again. We won't back down from our mission of providing free, fair news during this critical moment. But we can't do it without you.For the first time,  we're offering an ad-free experience. to qualifying contributors who support our fearless journalism. We hope you'll join us.You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again. We won't back down from our mission of providing free, fair news during this critical moment. But we can't do it without you.For the first time,  we're offering an ad-free experience. to qualifying contributors who support our fearless journalism. We hope you'll join us.Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.Vance has repeatedly accused the media of being obsessive over the election constantly propped up by the ex-president. But on Thursday, a newly resurfaced exchange from two years ago revealed the Republican falsely claiming that Trump won in 2020. The clip posted Thursday showed Vance also being asked by Jason Selvig of political comedy duo The Good Liars if he would concede should his opponent win more votes. The senator refused to answer.Advertisement

Related2020 electionMike JohnsonNBC's Kristen Welker Grills GOP Senator On Whether He'll 'Definitively' Say Trump Lost In 2020JD Vance Finally Says If He Thought Trump Lost 2020 ElectionJD Vance Claimed Trump Won 2020 Election In Damning Clip Go to HomepageLEAVE A COMMENTSuggest a correction|Submit a tipAdvertisement
From Our Partner






From Our Partner



HuffPost Shopping'sBest FindsNewsletter Sign UpPoliticsSign up for HuffPost's Politics email to get our top stories straight in your inbox.Successfully Signed Up!Realness delivered to your inboxBy entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.





Close What's HotMore In Politics

NEWSPOLITICSENTERTAINMENTLIFEVOICESHUFFPOST PERSONALSHOPPINGNEWSLETTERSAbout UsAdvertiseContact UsRSSFAQCareersUser AgreementComment PolicyDMCA PolicyHuffPost Press RoomAccessibility StatementPrivacy PolicyConsent PreferencesPrivacy SettingsPart of HuffPost Politics. ©2025 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved.The Huffington Post






A Republican's instinctive reaction is to give the answer that will make Libs cry. That is what Johnson is doing - giving the answer that will make Libs cry. And it did. Dems got shocked and outraged and went all a-flutter about Republicans planning a Jan 6 sequel.

The way to counter Repubs is to stop crying. Instead, mock them, early and often, and to their faces. Call them out on their relentless drama and whining