House

Bannon blasts Johnson for saying Biden presidency is ‘God’s will’

by Miranda Nazzaro - 01/17/24 6:33 PM ET

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 25: Steve Bannon, former advisor to President Donald Trump, departs New York State Supreme Court on May 25, 2023 in New York City. Last year, Bannon was charged with money laundering, conspiracy, and attempting to defraud in connection with the ‘We Build the Wall’ scheme. These state charges mirrored the federal charges for which Bannon was pardoned by former President Donald Trump. Bannon and his associates were accused of deceiving contributors in a private $25 million fundraising campaign aimed at constructing a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

Former White House aide Steve Bannon dug into House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) suggestion that President Biden’s election was “God’s will,” arguing the country needs a House Speaker rather than a “theologian.”

Bannon, during an episode of his podcast “The War Room,” played a clip of Johnson’s remarks Wednesday, telling his listeners to “be prepared to have your heads blow up.”

Johnson on Wednesday was asked if he believes the Biden presidency was “God’s will,” to which the Speaker explained he is a “Bible-believing Christian.”

“The Bible says that God is the one that raises up people and authority. I believe God is sovereign — by the way, so did the founders,” Johnson said. “They acknowledge that our rights don’t come from government, they come from God, and we’re made in His image, everybody’s made the same. We all are given equal rights and value and that’s something that we defend. So if you believe all those things, then you believe that God is the one that allows people to be raised in authority. It must’ve been God’s will then, that’s my belief.”

Bannon interrupted the clip during his podcast and falsely said, “Yo, dude, he’s an illegitimate president. Have you lost your freaking mind? This election was stolen.”

“Don’t be a theologian, I don’t need a theologian. He is the Speaker of the House. That’s what the country needs. Joe Biden’s not a legitimate president of the United States,” Bannon continued. “No to the Speaker. So no, God did not raise him up.”

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) heads to Statuary Hall in the Capitol to visit tourists on Thursday, January 18, 2024. The House will take up a continuing resolution to fund the government before the end of the day. (Greg Nash)

Bannon, who left the Trump White House in August 2017 after repeated clashes with other aides and the former president, has come to the president’s defense in recent years, including advancing former President Trump’s unfounded claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

Johnson’s election as Speaker in October brought election denialism back to the national conversation after the Louisiana Republican was one of 147 GOP members to vote against certifying the 2020 election results. Johnson also spearheaded an amicus brief in support of a Texas lawsuit contesting the 2020 election results and has repeatedly voiced his support for Trump.

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Johnson, a Southern Baptist, has also faced scrutiny over his faith and how it affects his viewpoints on certain policies, including abortion and the separation of church and state.

In his first speech as Speaker in October, Johnson said God has “allowed and ordained each and every one of us to be here at this specific moment,” a comment that likely prompted Wednesday’s question about the Biden presidency.

The Hill reached out to Johnson’s office for comment.