'Stunning move': Observers react to Mike Johnson's 'dark symbolism' with Trump
Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday gave Donald Trump the gavel used to pass the Republicans' so-called "big, beautiful" spending megabill, resulting in mockery.
After Trump signed into law the package, which includes Medicaid spending cuts, Johnson said, "This is the gavel we used to enact the big, beautiful bill, and I want you to have that," the GOP speaker said.
He then gave Trump the gavel in a symbolic gesture, and Trump banged it on the desk.
Observers erupted online.
Liberal political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen said, "onthenose as it gets."
Former prosecutor Ron Filipkowsk said, "gavel to the executive."
YouTuber J.J. McCullough said, "
Trump Lie Tracker (Commentary) chimed in, "BREAKING: In a stunning move, Speaker Johnson literally hands Trump his gavel. The Republican Congress has done nothing to put a check on Trump’s abuses of power, and nothing symbolizes that more than literally handing over his authority."
Republicans against Trump said, "gavel