‘God forbid’: Mike Johnson says he intends to remain GOP leader if Republicans lose House majority

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he intends to become GOP leader if Republicans lose their House majority in November — but he remains optimistic about the party’s chances despite significant headwinds.

“In the unlikely scenario that we lose the majority, I would expect my colleagues to ask me to continue to lead this conference, even though we have divided government,” Johnson told CBS News’ Robert Costa in an interview near his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana.

Johnson, who has led House Republicans as speaker since 2023, has repeatedly rebuffed questions about his plans if the GOP loses the majority in the lower chamber in November. Known for his optimism, the speaker said he was convinced that the Republicans would retain their seats in the House, or even increase their narrow majority. But midterm dynamics traditionally strengthen the opposing party that controls the White House, and the unpopular war in Iran, high gasoline and diesel prices and other controversial Trump administration policies have added to those challenges for the Republican Party.

Last week, a comment Johnson made to Fox News about his future plans fueled speculation that he might retire from politics, as he suggested he might return to his hometown of Shreveport and start a lawn business if the GOP lost the House majority.

“It’s just hilarious,” Johnson said of the interest in the comment, telling Costa the remark was “ironic.”

“What I was trying to tell them is that throughout my life, my number one goal is to be of greater and better use to God and to my country, and that’s always been my mind,” Johnson said. “And I was trying to make it clear that if God has a different plan, then we’ll follow it. But what I believe is that I’m going to be Speaker of the House for at least two more years.”

But Johnson added: “If, God forbid, we lost the majority, I would expect my colleagues to ask me to continue leading the conference in divided government.” »

“My intention is to stay and serve, and that’s what I did, to the best of my ability,” he said.

Johnson has campaigned intensely in recent weeks, with plans to hit 40 districts in 22 states before polls close on Election Day. He defended his continued leadership — whether in the majority or minority — by pointing to the millions of dollars he brought to Republicans this cycle, his busy travel schedule and his work to assemble a sometimes volatile Republican majority in Congress.

“I’m not sure what the case for an alternative is,” he said. “I plan to stay and lead.”

When Costa asked if he had the courage to be a tough, combative minority leader in today’s political environment, Johnson pointed to his time on the House Judiciary Committee and his defense of President Trump during his two impeachment trials.

“I was a trial lawyer in my past life, a constitutional lawyer. We can be tough, but we can be happy warriors,” he said. “That’s what Ronald Reagan was. That’s how I shaped myself.”

But Johnson was clear: he has “no intention other than to win this majority and serve as president.”

“That’s what’s going to happen,” Johnson said. “And I tell you, I leave everything on the field to do it.”