Biden says he’s not concerned Johnson might overturn 2024 election results

President Biden on Wednesday brushed off the possibility of newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) attempting to overturn the 2024 election results should Biden win reelection, following Johnson’s challenges to the 2020 election.

During a press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a reporter asked Biden about Johnson’s actions after the 2020 election, when he pushed false theories that the election was rigged and led a legal challenge against Biden’s victory.

Asked if he’s worried Johnson would try and invalidate the 2024 results, Biden said, “No.”

“Because he can’t. … Just like I was not worried that the last guy would be able to overturn the election,” Biden said. “They had about 60 lawsuits that went all the way to the Supreme Court, and every time they lost. I understand the Constitution.”

The House on Wednesday afternoon elected Johnson to be the 56th Speaker, capping off a chaotic three weeks that paralyzed the lower chamber after the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

The 51-year-old Johnson has been the House GOP’s vice chair, a junior leadership position, since 2021. He is also a former chair of the Republican Study Committee, the largest conservative caucus in the House, and currently serves on the House Judiciary and Armed Services committees.

In 2020, Johnson emerged as a key player in Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the presidential election. Johnson, then the vice chair of the House GOP conference, led an amicus brief backing a Texas lawsuit that sought to reverse the outcomes of the vote in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Johnson brushed off a question about his stance on the 2020 election Tuesday night. Asked about his efforts, the then-Speaker-designate shook his head and said “next question,” while GOP lawmakers surrounding him booed the reporter and told her to “shut up.”