CNN showcased interview footage from last year of House Speaker Mike Johnson referring to abortion as a “holocaust,” highlighting the Louisiana Republican’s extreme stance on reproductive rights.
The network’s investigative team, “KFile,” revealed that it had reviewed over 100 clips of interviews, speeches, and public commentary by the newly elected speaker. In one instance, Johnson appeared on the Vince Conglianese Show in May 2022, where he described abortion as “truly an American holocaust.”
During the Washington, D.C.-based radio program, Johnson stated, “the reality is that Planned Parenthood and all these big abortion [providers], they set up their clinics in inner cities. They are, you know, they regard these people as easy prey.”
In a separate interview, Johnson sat down with a conservative talk radio show on the day the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, expressing support for Justice Clarence Thomas’ opinion and emphasizing the need to clean up past erroneous decisions.
Amid the spotlight of his speakership, Johnson has faced significant backlash for his right-wing religious views that critique abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and the separation of church and state. Notably, Johnson has received an “A+” rating from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a prominent anti-abortion organization.
In addition, Johnson’s record includes advocating for a national abortion ban, co-sponsoring a 20-week abortion ban, and celebrating Louisiana’s abortion ban with criminal penalties of up to 10 years in prison.
