House Speaker Mike Johnson recently attempted to project a more relatable image during a live interview, but the effort did not go as planned.
Johnson, 53, and his wife, Kelly Johnson, participated in a discussion with Katie Miller, the spouse of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, on the latest episode of “The Katie Miller Podcast.”
During the 52-minute conversation, Miller inquired about a well-known artist who transitioned from rap and rock to country music. In response, Johnson made some unusual hand gestures on camera.
Understanding Mike Johnson: Insights on the New U.S. House Speaker
About 20 minutes into the interview, Miller asked Johnson, “What’s been the best event or thing you’ve attended where you were like, ‘That is so cool. I cannot believe I have this job?’” Johnson replied, “Well, the UFC fight was pretty awesome because we were there with Kid Rock and Jelly Roll and Elon [Musk].”
Miller then asked, “You know who Jelly Roll is?” Johnson responded affirmatively, awkwardly displaying a Hawaiian “shaka” sign with both hands. He added, “Yes. We have selfies together. There’s one hanging in my office.”
Following the interview, social media users expressed their reactions, with one commenter on Threads stating, “He gives me the yucks.” Another user remarked, “He should never do that with his hands again,” while another questioned, “Why are they so awkward and weird at absolutely everything?”
Responses on social media included comments like “Because they’re trying to pretend to be human,” and another Republican critic noted, “Every day it’s more ick from these people.” One tweet highlighted Johnson’s age, stating, “53-year-old Mike Johnson trying to look like a ‘Frat Bro’ here, just comes across as awkward.”
Despite the backlash, Johnson had the opportunity to socialize with notable figures such as country artist Jelly Roll, rock musician Kid Rock, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and former President Donald Trump at the UFC 309 fight held at Madison Square Garden in November 2024.
Johnson shared photos with the musicians and business leaders on his X account, which also featured images with Trump’s sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. Additionally, Robert Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and Vivek Ramaswamy were spotted with Johnson at the event, with UFC president Dana White also taking a photo with RFK Jr. and Trump.
“UFC at MSG was epic!” Johnson captioned a collection of images that garnered over 64,000 likes and 4 million views on the platform.
Just 11 days before UFC 309, Trump was re-elected for a second, nonconsecutive term as President of the United States, defeating then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5, 2024, election.
Johnson assumed the role of House Speaker in October 2023, following the contentious ousting of his Republican colleague Kevin McCarthy. He was re-elected to the position in January 2025, bolstered by an endorsement from Trump.
During their appearance on “The Katie Miller Podcast,” the Johnsons discussed various topics, including how they manage media scrutiny, marital disagreements, their Christian faith, and other personal matters.
Mike and Kelly Johnson first met while he was studying law at Louisiana State University, where he graduated in 1998. They married in May 1999 and have four biological children as well as an adopted Black son.
