I'm truly disappointed with Biden! Only Trump is capable of leading America.
House Speaker Mike Johnson praised President Donald Trump and his administration this week while also revealing that former President Joe Biden’s team left behind a “much bigger mess” than most people realize.
During an interview with CBS’s Tony Dokoupil, the Speaker spoke about the state of the country under the Trump administration ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Dokoupil claimed that CBS polling shows that Americans are feeling prices “rising faster than their wages.” Johnson accused Biden of creating an “economic” mess and claimed Trump had “reversed literally all of that.”
Johnson acknowledged that voters are still struggling but that the president and Republicans are working to provide more relief.
Below is a transcript of the exchange:
DOKOUPIL: “What can the president say tonight to change that? What can he do with Congress to fix it?"
Johnson: “I think you’ll continue to hear the president sharing the exciting facts about what we’ve been able to accomplish after his first year of his second term. Remember, we inherited a real mess, the Biden-Harris economy was a disaster. We had the highest inflation in 40 years. We had paychecks were getting smaller, taxes were getting higher. We reversed literally all of that. Now, it takes a while to reverse that trend. You don’t flip a switch right after the election and it all just is fixed magically.”
DOKOUPIL: “But, Mr. Speaker, I mean, on groceries, for example, they’re still 20 percent higher than they were in 2022 under Biden and Harris. But 20 percent means that when someone spends $100 at the grocery store today, they are paying $120 for the same things they were getting a few years ago.”
Johnson: “Inflation is gradually coming down. It’s not completely fixed yet, but we are on the right trajectory. Wages are going up. We have the lowest gas prices we’ve had in many years. Under Biden, for example, with gas prices, they hit a peak of $4.99 a gallon and the national average was about $3 for most of his term. The president reversed that. It’s the result of policy changes that have made this possible. And the working families tax cut, the Big Beautiful Bill, we infused it with pro-growth policies. And that legislation, seismic in nation shaping as it is, was written for lower and middle class earners. So they’re beginning to feel that relief. It’s going to result and is already resulting in bigger tax refunds for people as they file their taxes this year, bigger paychecks that will be coming. The estimate is $10,000 per citizen on average that they’ll have more money in their pockets because of the Republican policies that have been implemented and signed into law by President Trump. So we’re on the right trajectory.”
DOKOUPIL: “The president campaigned on closing the border and mass deportation. They were waving signs with that at the RNC. Something seems to have gone wrong, and terribly so. He’s now underwater on that issue, and I think we all know why.”
Johnson: “Well, there’s a perception out there that it was overzealous in some respect, but the president’s intention has always been to rid the country of dangerous criminal illegals. That’s what they’ve accomplished.”
DOKOUPIL: “Is it merely a perception?”
Johnson: “I think Tom Homan has done a great job when he went into Minneapolis, for example, and he brought calm to the situation and restored common sense. Immigration reform has to be done in a smart, strategic way. We have to follow the law. That’s what the American people demand. The polling is still high on removing people who are here illegally and causing harm to our communities, and that’s been a top priority. They’ve done it well. I think Tom Homan’s brought a steady hand to that issue, and Minneapolis is a great example of that, how we did it in short order. And of course, we removed the extra agents from there now because it was mission accomplished. Tom brings 40 years of experience to the job. He’s been awarded by Democrat presidents and Republican presidents alike. And that’s the kind of steady hand, I think, that you’ll see going forward.”
Breaking, PAM BONDI discloses that she has been diagnosed with…
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Steve Yates discusses Pam Bondi's contributions after her removal as attorney general
Steve Yates, former deputy national security advisor for Vice President Cheney, reflects on Attorney General Pam Bondi's significant contributions, especially in fighting illicit fentanyl and advocating for victims.
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Former Attorney General Pam Bondi was diagnosed with thyroid cancer shortly after departing the Department of Justice last month, according to a report.
Bondi, 60, who left her role at the Justice Department in early April, underwent treatment and is recovering, a source told Axios.
Katie Miller, a former White House staffer and podcast host who is married to White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, reposted the report on X on Tuesday.
"Pam has been quietly kicking cancer's ass the last few weeks," she wrote.
PAM BONDI CANCELS APPEARANCE AT ANTI-TRAFFICKING SUMMIT OVER MEDICAL ISSUE
Attorney General Pam Bondi takes her seat before testifying at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Department of Justice on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 11, 2026. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP)
She added that Bondi has "a heart of gold."
Axios disclosed the health update while reporting that Bondi has been appointed by President Donald Trump to an advisory committee focused on artificial intelligence policy.
The White House confirmed to Fox News Digital that Bondi will serve on the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
"Pam has been an enormously valuable asset to the president's team, and I'm thrilled for her and for all of us that she's going to remain involved in confronting some of the most important issues the administration faces," Vice President JD Vance said in a statement.
AG PAM BONDI SUGGESTS TRUMP'S CRIME CRACKDOWN IN DC WILL HELP LATINO RESIDENTS
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 7, 2025. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
The council is co-chaired by White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks and White House science advisor Michael Kratsios.
Bondi will reportedly help facilitate coordination between the federal government and technology executives serving on the panel.
News of Bondi’s diagnosis and new advisory role comes weeks after Trump removed her as attorney general.
KARL ROVE: TRUMP DROPPED BONDI, BUT THE REAL POLITICAL FIGHT IS JUST BEGINNING
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche attends a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 19, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
In a Truth Social post announcing her departure, Trump described Bondi as "a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend."
"Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country, with Murders plummeting to their lowest level since 1900," Trump wrote. "We love Pam, and she will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future."
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has served as acting attorney general since Bondi’s departure.
BLANCHE INVOKES TRUMP ‘LOVE’ WHEN ASKED ABOUT STAYING ON AFTER BONDI
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks as President Donald Trump looks on during a news conference in the Oval Office of the White House on Oct. 15, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
In a post on X confirming her exit from the Justice Department, Bondi said she remains "eternally grateful for the trust that President Trump placed in me to Make America Safe Again."
"Over the next month I will be working tirelessly to transition the office of Attorney General to the amazing Todd Blanche before moving to an important private sector role I am thrilled about, and where I will continue fighting for President Trump and this Administration," Bondi wrote.
"Leading President Trump’s historic and highly successful efforts to make America safer and more secure has been the honor of a lifetime, and easily the most consequential first year of the Department of Justice in American history."
Judge Tosses Wolff Suit, Clearing Path For $1B Melania Claim
Wolff filed suit against Trump seeking to block her from suing him for $1 billion for alleged defamatory claims he made regarding her association with Jeffrey Epstein.
“It’s an inappropriate level of tactical gamesmanship,” said Manhattan Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, an appointee of President Donald Trump.
Vyskocil said she would not be “drafted to oversee an abusively presented spat,” yet she recognized that both sides have a “real dispute.”
Last year, the first lady’s lawyer issued Wolff a letter demanding he delete the statements he made about Trump and threatening that she would have “no alternative” but to sue him if he didn’t.
That spurred him to sue her in state court in October.
Trump’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, had the complaint moved to federal court, where Vyskocil declared that while federal court does have jurisdiction, she was declining to exercise it and “dismisses this case to be litigated like any other.”
A Melania Trump spokesperson said that the first lady “is proud to continue standing up to, and fighting against, those who spread malicious and defamatory falsehoods as they desperately try to get undeserved attention and money from their unlawful conduct.”
The 56-year-old’s lawyer previously claimed that Wolff’s statements caused her “overwhelming reputational and financial harm.”
The first lady has denied any association with Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of child sex trafficking.
“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” the first lady said in an April press conference.
“The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility, and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation,” she added at the time.
Wolff claimed in his lawsuit that the president and first lady “have made a practice of threatening those who speak against them” with costly legal actions “to silence their speech, to intimidate their critics generally, and to extract unjustified payments and North Korean-style confessions and apologies.”
He added that some of his statements were taken out of context and some were protected speech, including a statement he made that claimed the Trumps have a “sham marriage, trophy marriage,” that his lawsuit says was a “fair and justified” opinion.
It also said in his lawsuit that Wolff never accused the first lady of being involved with criminal activity associated with Epstein.
The Daily Beast retracted an article last summer, titled “Melania Trump ‘Very Involved’ in Epstein Scandal: Author,” which was based on an interview with Wolff, after the outlet received a letter from Brito.
In the interview that formed the basis for the retracted piece, Wolff said he reported that the first lady was “behind the scenes” dealing with the situation at the White House, but was not involved criminally.
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace praised Melania Trump at the time for coming out against Epstein.
“Melania Trump stands with Epstein victims,” Mace said, citing the first lady’s advocacy for legislation addressing the distribution of fake intimate images. “The truth will prevail.”
Democratic lawmakers also commented following the statement.
Rep. Robert Garcia called for a public hearing, writing, “We agree with First Lady Melania Trump’s call for a public hearing,” Garcia said. “We encourage Chairman Comer to schedule a hearing immediately.”
Garcia said the remarks renewed attention on the broader investigation.
In her remarks, Melania Trump called on Congress to take action.
“Now is the time for Congress to act,” she said.
She urged lawmakers to allow victims to testify under oath.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
