Speaker Johnson’s Top Adviser Exposed As Never-Trump RINO
Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) top policy chief, Dan Ziegler, has come under scrutiny for his previous employment as a lobbyist for firms deeply invested in the Ukraine conflict. Ziegler, who worked with Williams & Jensen, represented corporations like Amgen and Eli Lilly & Co, who have publicly supported Ukraine against Russian aggression. This connection is pivotal as Speaker Johnson has been controversially steering the House to approve more aid to Ukraine, a move that has infuriated America First conservatives who demand that true border security at home be prioritized.
Ziegler’s former client, Bloom Energy Corp., provides services to Lockheed Martin, suggesting potential conflicts given the arms supplier’s vested interest in continued U.S. military support to Ukraine. These ties are crucial as Johnson has allowed separate bills on Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan aid to progress in the House despite his prior opposition to combined aid measures. This policy flip-flop has drawn fierce criticism from GOP figures like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY), who have sponsored a motion to remove Johnson as speaker.
Adding to the controversy within Johnson’s team, his Director of House Operations, Hannah Fraher, laid out her anti-Trump sentiment in a series of explosive emails. After the DC Young Republicans endorsed Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, Fraher demanded her dues back, accusing the group of bylaw violations. Her subsequent outburst and derogatory remarks about the organization revealed a deep-seated disdain for the former president, contrasting sharply with her current powerful role in a predominantly Republican administration.
The latest fight over House leadership will soon demand a public statement from President Trump. Johnson’s claim last weekend on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” that President Trump is “100% with me” stands in direct conflict to the news coming out of his office this week.
Johnson’s maneuvering on Ukraine aid and the discord it has sparked among America First lawmakers reflect a broader ideological battle within the party. Even though the GOP can hardly welcome yet another vacancy in the speaker’s chair, it can neither tolerate the sort of disastrous division Johnson is promoting.
