House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) criticized Democratic lawmakers on Monday, accusing them of using incendiary language that "incites violence" in the wake of a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner on Saturday night. Appearing on Fox News' "America's Newsroom," Johnson discussed the incident that occurred at the Washington Hilton hotel and responded to a Sunday post on X from Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.).
Fetterman's Call for Unity
In his post, Fetterman urged lawmakers to move beyond "Trump Derangement Syndrome" and support the construction of President Donald Trump's proposed White House ballroom, describing it as a secure venue for events like the WHCA dinner. Fox News host Bill Hemmer asked Johnson if he had heard sufficient condemnation from Democrats regarding the tone Fetterman struck. Johnson replied, "No," and praised Fetterman as "a rare voice in that camp," adding, "We need more of that."
Johnson's Criticism of Democratic Rhetoric
Johnson asserted that Democratic lawmakers have done the opposite of Fetterman's call for unity. "I mean, you have some of the most prominent figures in the House and in the Senate on the Democrat side effectively calling for war. They use those kinds of metaphors," Johnson said. "And it incites violence, because there are crazy people in society, and they get radicalized online. And so, we've got to recognize that. It's time to turn down the rhetoric — we've been saying this over and over — and not use that kind of language."
Hope for a Sobering Reminder
Johnson expressed hope that the incident would serve as a "sobering reminder for everybody about that very important cause" and reiterated his support for Fetterman's stance. He noted that the proposed ballroom would enhance security, being located on the most secure compound in the world, with no hotel rooms above and seven-inch-thick glass windows. "We need a place, we have needed a place like that, and the president keeps pointing it out," Johnson added.
Trump's Renewed Push for Ballroom
The WHCA dinner, typically held at the Washington Hilton, is hosted by the WHCA, not White House officials. Following the shooting, President Trump used the incident to advocate for his controversial $400 million White House ballroom project. In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump wrote, "This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House. It cannot be built fast enough!"
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit in December 2025 to halt construction, alleging Trump bypassed congressional approval to demolish the East Wing for the project. Trump dismissed the lawsuit as "ridiculous" and demanded it be dropped "immediately," asserting the project is "on budget and substantially ahead of schedule."
Johnson's full remarks can be viewed on "America's Newsroom" starting at the 5:03 mark.
