House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed back hard Friday against media claims that the failed Trump-backed redistricting effort in Indiana signaled declining influence for President Donald Trump. Cornered by CNN’s Manu Raju in the halls of Congress, Johnson rejected the idea that the Indiana vote was any sort of referendum on Trump’s power.
Raju asked, “Are you worried about Trump’s grip on power after Indiana? Do you think it shows he’s a lame duck?”
“Not at all!” Johnson shot back. “No, he is not a lame duck! He’s the most powerful president of this generation and many others. We have a lot more work to do together. The outcome in Indiana is inconsequential to that.”
When Raju suggested Trump had waged a pressure campaign on Indiana Republicans, Johnson denied it. “No, he didn’t! He did not put a major pressure campaign for it. He let his opinion be known as he does on everything, all the time, all day long.”
Despite Johnson’s framing, Trump had in fact enlisted both Johnson and Vice President JD Vance to urge Indiana state senators to pass the map, which analysts said could have added several GOP seats in the U.S. House. The Heritage Foundation reinforced the message shortly before the vote, posting on X that Trump warned federal funding to Indiana would be at risk if the Senate didn’t pass the map.
Asked Speaker Johnson if Indiana GOP’s rejection of Trump’s gerrymander shows POTUS grip is weakening.
“He is not a lame-duck. He’s the most powerful person of this generation,” he told me.
“He did not put a major pressure campaign,” despite all of Trump’s threats of primaries pic.twitter.com/PbQqOwIL4V
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 11, 2025
“Roads will not be paved. Guard bases will close. Major projects will stop,” Heritage said, calling the upcoming vote “the stakes” for the state.
But the proposed map failed 31–19, with many Republican senators siding with Democrats to block it. Trump responded with frustration, blasting Senate Republican leaders Rod Bray and Greg Goode as “RINOs” who denied the GOP the opportunity to pick up two more congressional seats. Trump also hinted that he would back primary challengers against lawmakers who opposed the map.
Even so, Johnson maintained that the Indiana result is not a sign of trouble for Republicans heading into the 2026 midterms. Instead, he described the setback as routine political fluctuation.
“We win some, we lose some,” Johnson said. “It is no indication whatsoever about what’s going to happen next year in the midterm elections. We are excited about it, we have a great campaign around it. We go forward regardless of how each one of these states comes out.”
Johnson insisted Republicans will succeed no matter what maps are ultimately enacted. “We are going to win whatever maps are presented,” he said. “I’m very bullish. I’m more bullish today than I was yesterday. You guys underestimate us. You’ll see.”
While Democrats and the media portray the Indiana redistricting defeat as a blow to Trump, Johnson made it clear he sees no weakening in Trump’s standing — and no lack of confidence in the party’s trajectory heading into a pivotal election cycle.
[READ MORE: Indiana Lt. Gov. Says Trump Administration Warned State: Pass GOP Map or Lose Federal Funding]
