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House Speaker Mike Johnson engaged in a heated discussion with CNN's Jake Tapper regarding recent controversial comments by former President Donald Trump, including remarks about an "enemy from within" and an inappropriate anecdote about golfer Arnold Palmer. Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, suggested that voters' primary concerns are related to the economy, asserting that rising living costs and increasing crime rates are the main issues on their minds.

Speaking from a campaign stop in Michigan on CNN’s "State of the Union," Johnson remarked, "Everywhere I go, Jake, everybody has the same concerns. They're fed up and they're fired up about the cost of living that's unaffordable now and the rising crime rates everywhere." However, Tapper pressed on, challenging Johnson to address Trump’s explicit comment made at a rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania concerning Palmer’s showers with other golfers.

Tapper argued, "I'm sure that you think that a policy debate would be better than a personality debate. But if President Biden had gone on stage and spoke about the size of a pro golfer's penis, I think you would be on this show right now saying you were shocked and appalled." Johnson dismissed the relevance of the Palmer anecdote, prompting Tapper to imply that Trump’s behavior was indicative of instability.

As their exchange continued with interruptions and cross-talk, Johnson defended Trump's campaign style, emphasizing the positive atmosphere at his rallies. "He has fun at the rallies. He says things that are off the cuff. But I'm telling you, I have been in those events. I have been in those arenas and people have a great time," Johnson stated. He insisted that focusing on select comments from a lengthy event was not a fair representation.

The discussion then shifted to Trump's recent statements about "the enemy from within," made during an interview on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures." Trump had expressed concerns about potential unrest from "radical left lunatics" on Election Day, suggesting that the National Guard or military might be needed to maintain peace.

Tapper and Johnson's back-and-forth continued as the CNN host referenced the Honor and Civility Caucus Johnson had previously established. Johnson defended Trump's rhetoric, portraying it as a reaction to genuine threats. However, Tapper highlighted Trump's specific mention of Representative Adam Schiff, pressing Johnson on whether such comments were acceptable.

Johnson maintained that Trump had no intentions of using the military against Schiff, while Tapper interjected by pointing out Trump's failure to maintain order on January 6th. Johnson countered by emphasizing Trump's record on international security, noting that "Russia did not invade Ukraine under his watch" and "Israel was not attacked viciously by Iran and its proxies."

Currently campaigning for Republicans in tight congressional races, Johnson has been a frequent figure on Sunday news shows, often facing tough questions from anchors about his support for Trump.