Critics tore into House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) after a report revealed one of his top aides planned a luxury-packed European staff trip.
NBC News reported Wednesday that Curt Beaulieu, a senior policy and tax adviser to the speaker, had been authorized to lead a weeklong bipartisan staff delegation to Italy and France in late October. A draft itinerary obtained by the outlet included a Ferrari factory, luxury brand companies in Milan or Florence and day trips to France's Champagne region.
Johnson's office said the trip had been canceled after NBC asked about it, citing an unspecified conflict. The office did not directly say who would have paid for the journey, which was set to take place roughly two weeks before the midterm elections.
The report drew swift backlash online, including from a congressional staffer who said he'd been on such trips himself and saw nothing like what Johnson's aide had lined up.
"This is f— insane," reacted Rahmon Ross, a senior aide for Rep. Jennifer McClellan, in a post on X. "The last staff delegation trip I was on involved 5 straight 12 hour days of meetings with govt officials, NGOs, and civil society, there certainly wasn't any time for f— luxury brand visits. Not surprised Johnson's staff is as corrupt as he is."
The account for investingLive, which covers market news, called the trip "stupid and tone deaf."
"There is a legitimate reason for staffdels," wrote political strategist Kate deGruyter, referring to staff delegations. "This is blatantly a luxury trip."
"Grifters Gone Wild?" joked political analyst Tom Sherwood.
Juliegrace Brufke, the Capitol Hill reporter who runs the Sources Say News, similarly chimed in, "To be fair, the itinerary looks like an objectively great time."
Noting that the itinerary included plans to go to either Milan or Florence, political blogger and journalist Matthew Yglesias posted, "I would reject the false choice between Milan or Florence when planning a trip someone else is paying for."
I would reject the false choice between Milan or Florence when planning a trip someone else is paying for. https://t.co/D8G2sE9TYH
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) September 30, 2026