MS NOW hosts criticize House Speaker Mike Johnson's State of the Union antics

Co-hosts say Johnson is 'getting weaker by the day' after applauding Trump's claim he doesn't need Congress

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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During a review of President Trump's State of the Union speech, MS NOW co-hosts Willie Geist and Joe Scarborough criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson for applauding Trump's claim that he doesn't need Congress to take actions like imposing tariffs. Scarborough joked that Johnson is 'getting weaker by the day' and compared him to a 'shriveling' character from the Harry Potter series.

Why it matters

The criticism of Johnson's actions during the State of the Union address highlights the ongoing tensions between the legislative and executive branches of the U.S. government, as well as concerns about the erosion of congressional authority.

The details

During the State of the Union, President Trump stated that he doesn't need congressional approval for actions like imposing tariffs. In response, House Speaker Mike Johnson stood and applauded, which the MS NOW co-hosts found troubling. Scarborough joked that Johnson is 'getting weaker by the day' and compared him to a 'shriveling' character from Harry Potter, suggesting Johnson's actions were a sign of his diminishing power and influence.

  • The State of the Union address took place on an unspecified date in 2026.

The players

Mike Johnson

The current Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States.

Willie Geist

Co-host of the MS NOW television program.

Joe Scarborough

Co-host of the MS NOW television program.

Amy Coney Barrett

A Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

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What they’re saying

“Interesting that, as he said, I don't need Congress to do tariffs. I'll do it on my own, the speaker of the house, Mike Johnson, leapt to his feet in applause to support the idea that the president of the United States does not need Congress, perhaps not just on tariffs, but on anything anymore.”

— Willie Geist, Co-host, MS NOW (rawstory.com)

“Yeah, Mike Johnson getting weaker by the day.”

— Joe Scarborough, Co-host, MS NOW (rawstory.com)

“It's it's like the final Harry Potter; he just kind of keeps shriveling up. It's getting sadder and sadder if you listen to the words that he said. I will say it's very interesting.”

— Joe Scarborough, Co-host, MS NOW (rawstory.com)

The takeaway

The criticism of House Speaker Mike Johnson's actions during the State of the Union address highlights the ongoing tensions between the legislative and executive branches of the U.S. government, as well as concerns about the erosion of congressional authority and the diminishing power of legislative leaders.