During a conservative gathering in Phoenix, Arizona, attendees expressed their dissatisfaction with House Speaker Mike Johnson. The audience booed Johnson after an anti-vaccine activist criticized the failed bipartisan government funding bill that Johnson had helped negotiate before it collapsed under the direction of President-elect Donald Trump.
At Turning Point USA’s “AmericaFest” conference, actress Leigh-Allyn Baker, known for her anti-vaccine stance, falsely claimed that the spending bill contained provisions mandating vaccines and other public health measures. She called out Johnson for his involvement in the negotiations, asking the crowd how they felt about it, which led to loud boos.
The collapse of the funding agreement on Wednesday raised doubts about Johnson's future as the leader of the chamber and posed the risk of a government shutdown if not resolved before midnight. Trump allies at the conference, including former aide Steve Bannon, openly criticized Johnson, with Bannon suggesting that Johnson should be removed from the speakership.
Despite being scheduled to appear at the conference, Johnson canceled his appearance to focus on negotiating a new funding bill. The ongoing backlash and ridicule directed at Johnson highlight the tense political climate surrounding the failed funding bill and its implications for the government's operations.
