Donald Trump Says He Has a 'Little Secret' with the House Speaker That's Having a 'Big Impact' on Election

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Michael M. Santiago/Getty; ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

Michael M. Santiago/Getty; ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

Former PresidentDonald Trumpis not keeping his “little secret” with House SpeakerMike Johnsonunder wraps.

During hisMadison Square Garden rallyon Sunday, Oct. 28, the 78-year-old former president gave a shout-out to Johnson, 52, saying, “He’s going to be around for a long time, I predict.”

However, it was what Trump said next that sparked the most buzz.

“We gotta get the congressmen elected and we gotta get the senators elected because we can take the Senate pretty easily, and I think with our little secret we’re going to do really well with the House, right?” Trump said while looking at Johnson. “Our little secret is having a big impact.”

“He and I have a secret,” Trump added. “We’ll tell you what it is when the race is over.”

Trump’s vague mention of an election-oriented “secret” immediately had political experts scratching their heads to figure out what the Republican leaders cooked up. Some interpreted Trump’s remarks as a hint that ifKamala Harriswins the election and Republicans keep the House majority, Johnson might try to use his position to prevent Congress from accepting the election results.

Before he was elected speaker, Johnson was involved in efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 election, leading a brief in a lawsuit aimed at overturning PresidentJoe Biden’s victory.

He was one of 147 Republicans in Congress who voted to reject the outcome of that election, even as Trump’s allies repeatedly failed to demonstrate that fraud had occurred.

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty

On Monday morning, New York Rep. Daniel Goldmanappeared on CNNand shared his thoughts on Trump’s comment, saying. “I think the secret yesterday that he [Donald Trump] referenced very likely may relate to his pact with Mike Johnson to — as a back-up plan for when he loses — to overturn this election on Jan. 6.”

CNNalso released a poll on Monday, revealing that 69% of voters believe Trump will refuse to concede the election if he loses in November. Nearly nine in 10 voters said they believe whoever loses the presidential election has “an obligation” to accept the outcome.

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This past weekend, Johnson spoke withAxiosand expressed that he has a “very close working relationship with President Trump” and “consider[s] him now a close friend.”

He added, “I know that’s mutual… [Trump] tells me how much confidence he has in my leadership.”

source: people.com