U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks during the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 17, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci
House Speaker Mike Johnson triggered a social media firestorm Thursday with a false and deliberately misleading claim that Democrats exposed themselves as the "party of PUNCHING PUPPIES."
The House passed the Bill to Outlaw Wounding of Official Working Animals, or BOWOW, Act, which would make any noncitizen convicted of or admitting to harming law enforcement animals deportable. 190 Democrats voted against it, and 15 Democrats crossed over to vote yes.
Johnson pounced on the opportunity to dunk on his colleagues across the aisle.
"The Democrats just decided to officially become the party of PUNCHING PUPPIES. 190 Democrats just voted to give illegal immigrants the RIGHT TO PHYSICALLY ABUSE American service dogs — serving with law enforcement protecting American citizens. The level Democrats will go to protect illegal aliens instead of Americans is disturbing, disgusting, and dangerous," Johnson roared on X.
The viral claim notably misrepresents the Democratic opposition. Opponents argued the bill was largely redundant, as harming a police dog is already unlawful. They objected to the legislation's immigration enforcement mechanics.
Some Democrats also raised concerns that the measure would trample on legal immigrants' due process rights by allowing removal before they've had a formal verdict.
Johnson's attack riled up critics, with some pointing out that ousted former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversaw immigration enforcement, previously admitted to shooting her own puppy for misbehavior.
Sarah Rumpf, contributing editor at Mediaite, chided on X, "Abusing animals is already a crime, you dolt, and I’m pretty darn sure every jurisdiction has additional criminal penalties if it involves a law enforcement service animal. Meanwhile, how’s the Epstein files stuff going, huh?"
Norman Ornstein, contributing editor for the Atlantic, wrote on X, "Now do your dear friend Kristi Noem. Asking for Cricket."
Sara McGee, a Democratic nominee for the Texas House of Representatives, wrote on X, "This simply cannot be real life."