House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) reportedly showed an unusual flash of frustration during a closed-door meeting with House Republicans, allegedly exclaiming, “I’m sick of this sh*t!” as disagreements within the conference intensified over a bipartisan veterans bill.
According to a report from NOTUS, which cited multiple sources who were present in the room, the normally composed speaker lost his temper as Republican lawmakers debated the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act. The dispute centered on divisions within the GOP conference, with Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) opposing the legislation while Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) supported moving it forward.
The report said tensions escalated when Luna allegedly became upset with Johnson, prompting the speaker’s rare emotional outburst. Johnson, who is widely known for maintaining a calm demeanor during contentious negotiations, quickly sought to defuse the situation.
Following the exchange, Johnson reportedly apologized directly to Luna. He also made a point of addressing the school-aged son of Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), who had witnessed the confrontation, offering an apology for using profanity during the heated moment.
The disagreement ultimately had immediate consequences for the legislation. Johnson pulled the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act from consideration on the House floor. According to Military Times, the speaker later indicated that action on the bill could be postponed “for weeks.”
The reported clash comes as House Republicans continue to navigate the challenges of governing with a slim majority, a dynamic that has repeatedly complicated efforts to advance legislation. Several sources who spoke with NOTUS said frustration has been growing among Republican lawmakers over the conference’s inability to consistently unite behind key bills.
Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) acknowledged the divisions within the Republican conference, telling the outlet that members approach legislating in different ways.
“The Republican conference is a diverse gathering of people, some of whom are really effective at getting things done and others who are more interested in knocking things down,” he said.
Other lawmakers echoed similar concerns, suggesting that a relatively small number of members have exercised outsized influence by opposing legislation that many Republicans support.
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) said the overwhelming majority of House Republicans consider themselves “team players,” but expressed frustration with what he described as a small minority that has repeatedly blocked legislative efforts.
“I don’t appreciate it, but we live in that reality that they can leverage it,” Gimenez said. “So there are the vast majority of us who don’t like that. We’re team players.”
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) offered his own assessment of the dispute, characterizing the divide as one pitting “the hardcore conservatives against everybody else.”
The reported exchange underscores the ongoing challenges facing House Republican leadership as internal disagreements continue to complicate efforts to move legislation through the narrowly divided chamber. With the veterans bill now delayed and no immediate timetable for its return to the floor, the dispute highlighted the balancing act Johnson faces in attempting to unify competing factions within his conference while advancing the party’s legislative agenda.
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