In reporting on the internal feuding among Republicans on Capitol Hill, NOTUS journalist Reese Gorman wrote Friday on social media: “Last week, right off the House Floor, Mike Johnson’s frustrations with the rebels who delve the House into chaos boiled over. During a heated discussion with Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who has held the floor and legislation hostage throughout this Congress, Johnson finally had enough.”
According to Gorman, Johnson snapped and said, “I’m sick of this [expletive],” and then “almost immediately, Johnson apologized to Luna for his outburst. He then walked over to the elementary-school-aged son of Rep. Gabe Evans, who had witnessed the interaction, and got down on one knee and apologized for cursing in front of him.”
Former U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) replied to Gorman: “I sat next to Mike for 6 years and never heard him curse. During said time I cursed frequently.”
I sat next to Mike for 6 years and never heard him curse.
During said time I cursed frequently. https://t.co/fCcabZAGnP
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) July 24, 2026
U.S. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) — who succeeded Johnson as Chair of the Republican Study Committee in 2021 — backed up Gaetz, writing: “I heard Matt curse.”
Former House Freedom Caucus chairman, U.S. Representative Bob Good (R-VA), also replied to Gaetz: “Speakership changed (or revealed) him almost immediately, in more ways than one…including his language.”
Good’s assertion stems at least partly from a history between the two men. When Good ran for reelection in 2024, Johnson withheld his endorsement during Good’s primary and asked his House colleagues not to campaign against each other. Trump endorsed Virginia state senator John McGuire, who narrowly beat Good.
Both Good and Gaetz defied Johnson’s call for party unity and endorsed GOP candidate Brandon Herrera rather than incumbent Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), who went on to win the primary.