Ignorance is BS: Speaker's Go-To Response on Trump's Misdeeds is Frequently 'I Don't Know'

The Speaker of the US House, Mike Johnson, has adopted a go-to answer when pressed about questionable actions from President Trump or officials of his government.

His response is typically some version of "I am unaware about that."

When questioned about the newest scandal from the Trump presidency, Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, frequently says he is in the dark—including recently regarding allegations about a questionable U.S. military strike.

Compared to past leaders, who oversaw House proceedings and sought to hold the executive branch responsible, Johnson's tactic is both extraordinary and an dereliction of that position's constitutional obligation, according to scholars on the U.S. Congress.

“It’s pretty atypical for a House leader to claim unawareness about what the president is doing, especially as frequently as Speaker Johnson,” commented Matthew Green, a politics professor. “The president is a pretty visible figure... and this president especially is a expert of getting attention.”

While elected officials frequently dodge answering questions, Johnson's tendency of doing so is especially noteworthy because of the prominent place the speaker holds in government.

“Hardly any officers are specified specifically in the constitution; the speakership is one of them,” Green stated. “I would say it’s definitely the job of the speaker to stay informed about what the president is doing and saying.”

A Strategy of Professed Ignorance

There are at least 14 documented cases of Johnson stating he had lacked time to review information on a significant story from the Trump administration.

These include questions about:

• Individuals pardoned by Trump.
• Actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
• The president's personal finances.
• The use of the military.

Notable Examples

In May, after Trump hosted a private dinner for top investors in a cryptocurrency tied to him, raising ethical questions, a news host challenged Johnson.

“I really have a hard time believing that if this was a Democratic president... you wouldn’t be upset,” the host said. Johnson responded: “I haven't heard anything about the dinner... I’m not going to comment on something I am completely unaware of.”

Later, in October, after Trump pardoned a digital currency mogul convicted of money laundering, a reporter questioned Johnson if he was concerned by the president's statement that he didn't know the individual.

“I am not aware anything about that. I didn’t see the interview,” Johnson said. He also stated he didn't “have any information” about a forgiven January 6 rioter who was later arrested for making threats a congressional leader.

“It is hard to believe that the speaker of the House would be ignorant of what a president is doing when it’s all over the news among reporters and on social media,” Green remarked.

Avoidance and Defense

Johnson furthermore alternatively defends the president or argues it’s not his responsibility to comment on the issue.

When questioned about Trump accepting a multi-million dollar jet as a gift from Qatar, Johnson reportedly deployed all three tactics: claiming ignorance, defending the action, and stating it wasn't his concern.

“I’m not following all the details... I have certainly heard about it,” Johnson told reporters. “My understanding is it’s not a personal gift... I’m going to leave it to the administration... It’s not my lane.”

Green argued that, logically, “you can’t have all three.”

“If you don’t know about it, then how can you defend it? And if it’s not your responsibility, then why are you talking about it? And it is his responsibility, for the record. It’s the job of Congress to ensure that laws are followed,” Green said.

Staff and Strategic Ignorance

Experts contend that even if Johnson is individually busy, he has a extensive staff to keep him updated.

“You know damn well there is someone briefing him on all this stuff,” said Larry Evans, a professor of government. “It is not that he is ignorant about it – any more, frankly, than when President Trump claims, ‘Oh, I didn’t know about that.’”

Last week, when questioned about a significant report detailing a questionable military strike ordered by the administration, Johnson's answer was typical.

“I’m not going to comment on any of that. I was pretty busy yesterday. I didn’t see a lot of the news,” he stated.

Given Congress’s authority to declare war, experts argue that pleading ignorance on such a matter is an failure of responsible governing.

Partisan Calculus

Analysts see the political calculus behind Johnson's strategy.

The speaker not only leads the chamber but also a slim majority party, so he must work to keep his conference together.

“I think he sees his role as party leader and ally to the White House as critical,” said one analyst. Still, “his fealty to Trump is somewhat unprecedented.”

Furthermore, in the frenetic news cycle of Trump's second term, consistently pleading ignorance can be an useful strategy.

“Just saying ‘I have no comment’ – and knowing that probably in 12 hours there will be another story that people are thinking about – it’s not a ineffective strategy,” said one observer.