The speaker has drawn criticism for shutting down the House before lawmakers could vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Plus: President Donald Trump has announced a new trade deal with Japan that sets a 15% tariff. | How much did the military parade cost last month?

When Mike Johnson first ascended to become U.S. House speaker, his profile was so low that senators and foreign dignitaries had to turn to Google to figure out who he was.

House Speaker Mike johnson began the August recess early in order to avoid votes on the release of the government's files on Jeffrey Epstein.

House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks to members of the media at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images

NEWLY ELECTED SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON DECLARES HOUSE 'BACK IN BUSINESS,' VOWS ACTION TO SUPPORT ISRAEL. Recent candidate-for-speaker Tom Emmer was one of the Republicans to vote for gay marriage.

Rep. Mike Johnson, the new speaker of the House, has been a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump and was a key congressional figure in the failed efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks after being elected as the speaker nominee during a GOP ... More conference meeting in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill on October 24, 2023 ...

While House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) may have yet again avoided a government shutdown, his speakership may be on the line with some Republicans already refusing to commit to supporting him come ...

The House speaker announced that lawmakers would leave a day early for a five-week break from Washington as tensions soar over Epstein files.

In an interview with Major Garrett on "The Takeout," Speaker Mike Johnson lavished Donald Trump with praise after praise. After watching Trump "negotiate" with Japan, Johnson only had this to say about his dear leader: "he is really the king of the art of the deal.