**Speaker Mike Johnson and George Stephanopoulos Spar Over Trump-Related Rhetoric and Election Denialism**

In a tense exchange, House Speaker Mike Johnson clashed with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos over comments from allies of former President Donald Trump suggesting that Democrats were behind recent assassination attempts. Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, emphasized the need to "turn the rhetoric down" but stopped short of condemning remarks made by Eric Trump.

During a Butler, Pennsylvania rally, Eric Trump accused Democrats of attempts on his father's life, blaming them for creating a dangerous climate. Johnson, 52, argued that Eric Trump, 40, was not implying an actual assassination attempt by the Democratic Party but was instead referring to the general disparagement of Trump by top Democrats, who have portrayed him as a "threat to democracy."

Stephanopoulos, 63, pressed Johnson on whether he would denounce Eric Trump's statements. However, Johnson praised Eric as a "very level-headed and a very intelligent person," maintaining that the younger Trump's comments were aimed at criticizing the "lawfare" tactics used against the former president rather than making literal accusations.

The conversation also shifted to the contentious topic of the 2020 presidential election. Stephanopoulos questioned Johnson on whether he could unequivocally affirm Joe Biden's victory. Johnson dodged the question, accusing mainstream media of playing a "gotcha game" and emphasizing the need to focus on the future rather than re-litigating past events. He stated, "Joe Biden has been the president for almost four years. Everybody needs to get over this and move forward."

After the interview, Johnson criticized ABC News for not addressing recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene, which he described as a significant oversight. He further elaborated on this issue during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday," where he labeled the federal response to the hurricane as a "massive failure." Johnson pointed to dissatisfaction among locals and criticized FEMA for losing sight of its core mission, suggesting that the administration was unprepared for the disaster.

The exchanges reflect ongoing partisan tensions and differing interpretations of past and current political events, setting the stage for a heated election cycle.