'Stunning move': Observers react to Mike Johnson's 'dark symbolism' with Trump

Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday gave Donald Trump the gavel used to pass the Republicans' so-called "big, beautiful" spending megabill, resulting in mockery.

After Trump signed into law the package, which includes Medicaid spending cuts, Johnson said, "This is the gavel we used to enact the big, beautiful bill, and I want you to have that," the GOP speaker said.

He then gave Trump the gavel in a symbolic gesture, and Trump banged it on the desk.

Observers erupted online.

Liberal political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen said, "This is about as on-the-nose as it gets."

Former prosecutor Ron Filipkowsk said, "Congress abdicated its role as a separate and independent branch of government on January 20 while also relinquishing all oversight responsibility, so it’s entirely appropriate for Johnson to show that he has surrendered his gavel to the executive."

YouTuber J.J. McCullough said, "Some dark symbolism in the submissive Speaker of the House handing his gavel over to the authoritarian president."

Trump Lie Tracker (Commentary) chimed in, "BREAKING: In a stunning move, Speaker Johnson literally hands Trump his gavel. The Republican Congress has done nothing to put a check on Trump’s abuses of power, and nothing symbolizes that more than literally handing over his authority."

Republicans against Trump said, "Mike Johnson gives Trump his gavel, a fitting gesture since he already handed him control of the House of Representatives long ago."

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