MEAWW.COM / NEWS / POLITICS

What is Mike Johnson's net worth? Furore over report claiming House Speaker possibly lives 'paycheck to paycheck'

A recent report has raised questions about House Speaker Mike Johnson's personal finances

WASHINGTON, DC: A recent report has stirred controversy and speculation surrounding the financial status of House Speaker Mike Johnson.

The report, titled "Does New Speaker of the House Mike Johnson Have a Bank Account?," published by The Daily Beast, delves into his personal finances and raises questions about whether he lives paycheck to paycheck.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has no bank account on financial disclosures

The report highlights that Speaker Johnson has never disclosed a bank account on his financial reports. His most recent disclosure, covering the year 2022, notably lacks any listed assets.

Over the past seven years, Johnson has consistently refrained from reporting any checking or savings accounts in his name, or those of his wife and children.

Daily Beast's senior political reporter, Roger Sollenberger, emphasizes, "In fact, he doesn't appear to have money stashed in any investments, with his latest filing — covering 2022 — showing no assets whatsoever."

Is House Speaker Mike Johnson living paycheck to paycheck?

While it's improbable that Speaker Johnson lacks a bank account, the report suggests a different scenario. It implies that he might live paycheck to paycheck, which could explain the absence of financial disclosures.

According to the rules for members of Congress, a checking account disclosure is triggered by having sufficient funds in the bank.

Daily Beast's report on Mike Johnson's finances sparks a wave of reactions

The article has sparked a wave of reactions from the public, including elected officials, cable news pundits, and social media users. Some prominent figures came to Speaker Johnson's defense, highlighting the unfair criticism he received, as per Fox News.

Representative Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, commented, "The Daily Beast is furious that @SpeakerJohnson isn't rich, corrupt, or rich from being corrupt. He doesn't have shady business deals. He doesn't trade stocks as a congressman. Cry more, I guess."

Representative Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas, pointed out, "So, to some extent accurate, he's like a lot of Americans right now while also navigating raising a large family? What a monster."

Representative Lauren Boebert, a Republican from Colorado, expressed her frustration with the article, stating, "So the Daily Beast wants people to be mad that Speaker Johnson isn't corrupt and hasn't used his office to enrich himself? This is how out of touch these guys are."

Fox Business host Charles Payne argued that this examination of Johnson's finances highlights the unconventional times we live in. He pointed out that it's peculiar that some see it as a strike against lawmakers who are not exploiting insider knowledge to amass wealth while serving as public servants.

Townhall columnist Kurt Schlichter sarcastically remarked, "I think what we need is more rich people in Congress. Did I get your point correctly?"

Social media accounts also joined in on the discussion. Popular account The Foo stated, "Imagine if you were this outraged about 'public servants' being multimillionaires."