Known for making several controversial comments, House Speaker Mike Johnson has again set tongues wagging. One quote from 2022 exposed Johnson’s characterization of abortion rights in the U.S. as an “American holocaust.”
“During business hours today, 4,500 innocent American children will be killed,” Johnson wrote in an op-ed that recently resurfaced. “It is a holocaust that has been repeated every day for 32 years, since 1973’s Roe v Wade.”
According to reports, the op-ed was a response to the death of Terri Schiavo, the Florida woman whose vegetative state triggered a lengthy legal battle and federal action from Congress.
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In the opinion piece published by the Shreveport Times, Johnson wrote, “The prevailing judicial philosophy is no different than Hitler’s. Because the life of an unborn child (or a disabled Terri Shiavo [sic], or the elderly and infirm) may be difficult or inconvenient or even costly to society now means it can be terminated.”
In addition, Johnson claimed that entities like Planned Parenthood exploit residents, labeling them as “easy prey” in the abortion industry. “The reality is that Planned Parenthood and all these… big abortion … they set up their clinics in inner cities,” Johnson told a radio show in May 2022. “They regard these people as easy prey.”
Comparisons between abortion and the Holocaust in the U.S. date back decades. Anti-abortion advocates wrote books in the 1980s with titles such as “The Abortion Holocaust: Today’s Final Solution.” Although the mainstream United States has grown less tolerant of the comparison, it has never disappeared from anti-abortion circles.
Expressing gratitude for being a Louisiana native, Johnson applauded the state’s trigger law, which has been in effect since 2006. This law mandates automatic abortion bans, without exceptions, showcasing Johnson’s pro-life stance.
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Similarly, Johnson aligned himself with the 2021 “heartbeat bill,” advocating for abortion bans after six weeks, a stage when many individuals are unaware of their pregnancy.
However, these comparisons and statements do not sit right with some members of the public. “Comparing abortion to the Holocaust is reprehensible and an insult to women across the country,” said Hannah Muldavin, communications adviser for the Congressional Integrity Project.
Muldavin said, “This is yet another example of how extreme and out of touch with the country Mike Johnson is.” She said the election of Johnson was an endorsement of his extreme views that threaten our democracy and the rights of Americans.”
However, despite the public backlash, Johnson spoke about his thoughts on the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in a 2022 appearance on Fox News.
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“There is no right to abortion in the Constitution,” he said. “There never was; it’s not in its text, structure, or meaning, and the court said that decisively.” The House Speaker added, “Many of us have been working towards this day our entire adult lives, and it is a joyous occasion.”
However, Johnson’s post-Roe statements drew criticism from senior fellow Norm Eisen. Eisen deemed Johnson’s views “radical” and “out of the mainstream.” Eisen also suggested that his views could regress the country “more than half a century.”
Like with abortion, Johnson’s conservative stance extends to challenging Supreme Court decisions on same-sex marriage and gay sex bans. While discussing his views, Johnson said that Americans must collectively acknowledge that man is inherently evil and needs restraining.
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