Jen Psaki Urges Democrats to Leverage GOP Chaos After Mike Johnson’s Narrow Re-Election as Speaker

Mike Johnson’s re-election as Speaker of the House last week highlighted the instability within the Republican Party, according to MSNBC’s Jen Psaki. In a newly published column, the former White House press secretary pointed to internal GOP tensions and urged Democrats to capitalize on the dysfunction.

Johnson, who faced rumors of an uprising, secured his position despite nine Republican lawmakers voting against him in Friday’s election—the same number needed to trigger a vote for his removal. Psaki argued that this razor-thin margin underscores the challenges Johnson will face leading the House under a slim Republican majority.

“Friday’s events are just another sign of how chaotic this Congress is going to be,” Psaki wrote. “I mean, Johnson just barely eked out a victory, and now he’s going to be in charge of the slimmest House majority in modern history. That’s not to mention the Trump of it all—or the Elon Musk of it all—posting and tanking bills and pulling strings.”

Acknowledging the influence of Donald Trump and his close adviser Elon Musk, Psaki predicted turmoil ahead for House Republicans. “It’s going to be messy,” she added. “That much is clear.”

Psaki called on Democrats to exploit this moment of GOP instability with a bold legislative agenda. She suggested that Democrats should force Republicans into difficult votes on issues like raising the minimum wage and codifying abortion rights into federal law. Highlighting the slim Republican majority, Psaki argued that aggressive Democratic policies could expose GOP fractures and rally public support for Democratic leadership.

“[The] speaker vote was another reminder that Republicans control nearly everything in Washington, but it was also a reminder that this is not going to be smooth sailing for them,” Psaki wrote. “It’s going to be messy. That is why it may be the perfect time for Democrats to get out there with an aggressive strategy and show the American people why they can and should be put into power again.”

As Johnson navigates a divided party and faces pressure from powerful figures like Trump and Musk, Psaki suggested that the GOP’s internal conflicts could create an opening for Democrats to redefine the political narrative. Whether Democrats can leverage this opportunity to regain public confidence and legislative momentum remains to be seen.