'All talk': Speaker Mike Johnson mocked for slamming Biden's border management in first floor speech

WASHINGTON, DC: House Speaker Mike Johnson delivered a scathing rebuke of President Joe Biden's handling of the US-Mexico border and immigration policy during his first floor speech, reported The Hill.

In his 30-minute long remarks on Wednesday, January 31, the top lawmaker of the chamber claimed that the President and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas "designed this catastrophe" at the US southern border where illegal immigration is at an all-time high.

"He's inviting chaos and disorder within our land that is tearing at the very fabric of our society. The President can put a stop to this. President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas have designed this catastrophe," the Republican Speaker said.

According to a report by the Associated Press, illegal border crossings from Mexico reached a record number as the Border Patrol made 249,785 arrests at the border in December 2023, a 31% surge from 191,112 in November of the same year.

After assuming the Speaker position in October 2023, Johnson's maiden floor speech coincided with Senate negotiators giving a finishing touch to an emerging bipartisan border deal.

Mike Johnson accuses Biden of attempting to shift the border crisis blame to Congress

Johnson continued his criticism against the President, claiming that he was trying to shift the accountability of his failure at the border to Congress, a move which he labeled as "absolutely laughable."

"No one's falling for this," he added.

The Speaker countered the President, demanding the latter to "demonstrate good faith and take immediate action to secure that border" to prove his seriousness about protecting national security.

"But he won't do it. He needs to immediately stop the mass release of illegals in our country, but he won't do it. If he wants our House Republican conference to view him as a good-faith negotiator, he can start with a stroke of a pen. But he's got to do it quickly," Johnson continued.

The Speaker, who is in "pretty frequent" contact with Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, made the speech as the border crisis looms as a threat over Biden's re-election bid.

In addition, the former President is also actively lobbying to kill the bipartisan border deal to block a legislative victory for the incumbent ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Although he denied such moves, Trump had previously declared he would take the blame if the bill failed.

Internet reacts to Mike Johnson's floor speech

Netizens ridiculed Johnson for criticizing Biden over the border crisis, pointing out that the Republican-led House could solve the issue by supporting the President.

One user said, "All talk…no legislation."

Another user opined, "And I am sure he does it with a straight face knowing that he is standing in the way of a solution."

"Who’s got the majority? Why aren’t republicans fixing it??" questioned a third.

A fourth added, "WHAT ACTION HAS THE GOP TAKEN?? None."

"Game of politics doesn’t mean much these days," read one response.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.