Vice President JD Vance and Speaker Mike Johnson were caught on a hot mic on Tuesday evening, sharing candid thoughts about Donald Trump’s upcoming State of the Union speech. The conversation, which took place just before Trump arrived at Congress, was overheard by viewers as part of the live broadcast.
Standing at the front of Congress, JD Vance and Johnson exchanged their thoughts on the anticipated speech. Vance expressed his belief that Trump’s speech would be effective but remarked, “I don’t know how you do this for 90 minutes.” In response, Johnson shared his frustration with a previous speech, noting how difficult it was to sit through President Biden’s address in 2024, which he described as a “stupid campaign speech.”
As the conversation continued, Johnson noticed the microphone was live and quickly pushed it aside to continue speaking privately.
For context, Johnson’s remark referred to Biden’s 2024 State of the Union, which was widely seen as a politically charged speech ahead of the election. Biden's address also sought to showcase his vigor, countering concerns from some Democrats and donors about his physical ability to run for re-election.
While informal chats between the Vice President and Speaker before such speeches are common, this particular exchange attracted attention due to the candid nature of their comments and their critique of the opposition party.
As Trump began his speech, the atmosphere quickly became heated. Rep. Al Green, a Democrat, stood up and interrupted Trump by waving a cane and shouting, “You have no mandate to cut healthcare!”
In response, Speaker Johnson tried to restore order by grabbing the microphone and warning Democrats to observe proper decorum. Despite his efforts, Green continued his protest, prompting Johnson to order the Sergeant of Arms to remove him from the chamber.
As Green was escorted out by Capitol Hill police, Republican members of Congress erupted in chants of “Get out!” and the song, "Hey, hey, goodbye!" in unison. Democrats in the chamber also took action, with some holding up protest signs that read “Musk Steals,” “False,” and “Save Medicare”.
In a powerful image of division, some female Democrats wore pink as a form of protest against Trump’s speech. Trump, acknowledging the atmosphere in the chamber, remarked, “I look at the Democrats in front of me and realize—there’s nothing I can say to make them happy, stand, smile, or applaud.”
This moment underscored the ongoing political polarization in the U.S. as both parties remained entrenched in their positions.
The hot mic incident between JD Vance and Johnson gave viewers a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes commentary before Trump’s speech, while the subsequent disruptions during the address highlighted the deep political divide in Congress.
