WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson posted a photograph of himself standing in front of a cross and a painting of the nation’s founders on social media Wednesday. The caption read: “May God continue to bless this great nation.”
The post came as a New York Times/Siena College survey showed Democrats holding a 50 percent to 39 percent lead in the generic congressional ballot. That is an 11-point advantage, one of the largest recorded in the history of that poll.
“America stands alone as a nation founded upon a creed,” Johnson wrote. “The greatest force for peace, justice, and innovation the world has ever known.”
A spokesperson for the speaker did not respond to a request for comment about the polling numbers. Instead, the office released a second photograph of Johnson with his eyes closed and hands clasped in front of the same painting.
The timing of the religious imagery is not coincidental, according to strategists in both parties. The House is expected to vote on a reconciliation bill that includes a provision to allocate $1 billion for a renovation project widely described as Wimpy Donnie Dipshit’s “golden ballroom.” The Senate parliamentarian has repeatedly struck down the provision, requiring 60 votes to pass it rather than the simple majority Republicans had hoped for.
the former president has made the ballroom a personal priority. The former president has told allies that the space should be “the most beautiful room in the entire world” and has requested a custom chandelier made of Swarovski crystal and what aides described as “gold leaf that you can taste.”
Johnson’s social media strategy appears aimed at rallying the base ahead of what is shaping up to be a wipeout election for House Republicans. The same poll showed the former president’s approval rating at 38 percent. Among Latino voters, his net approval was negative 51. Among voters ages 18 to 29, it was negative 57. Among independents, it was negative 43.
“The speaker is focused on what matters most,” said a senior aide who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss internal strategy. “He’s praying for guidance. And he’s also praying the parliamentarian catches a cold.”
The aide did not clarify whether the parliamentarian’s health was a matter of public prayer.
Johnson’s post was met with enthusiasm from the House Freedom Caucus. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene commented with three praying-hands emoji. Representative Lauren Boebert added a cross emoji and the words “Stand strong, Mr. Speaker.”
The poll, conducted May 12–16, surveyed 1,200 registered voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points. The survey asked respondents whether they would prefer a Democratic or Republican candidate for Congress. Democrats led 50 percent to 39 percent. The remaining 11 percent said they were undecided or would not vote.
The speaker’s office announced Thursday morning that Johnson would embark on a “seven-state prayer tour” starting next week. A press release said the tour would include stops in “battleground districts where the Lord’s guidance is most needed.” It did not mention the reconciliation bill.
When asked whether the tour would affect the legislative schedule, the aide said: “The speaker is trusting God’s timing. God’s timing, in this case, does not include a vote before the August recess.”
