OAN Staff Addie Davis
4:20 PM – Monday, April 27, 2026
During an appearance on Fox News‘ “America’s Newsroom” on Monday, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson raised concerns regarding the security protocols at Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The Louisiana Republican reflected on his experience at the event, describing the protective measures as “a little lax” and noting that, from his vantage point, the security presence appeared insufficient.
“I can tell you, from a layman’s perspective, it did look a little lax in terms of, as everyone’s now noted, getting into the building,” Johnson said. “Now, we all came in, Cabinet secretaries, government officials, with their own details, we come in the back, so I didn’t see the magnetometers and all that, but it doesn’t sound like it was sufficient,” he explained.
Recounting the chaotic scene, Johnson described how his security detail abruptly seized him and ushered him through the nearest exit while his wife was escorted away separately.
The couple was then held in the motorcade as they waited for the situation to stabilize and for further details to emerge.
In response to the incident, Johnson announced that the House Oversight Committee will conduct a formal review and hearing with the U.S. Secret Service to determine how Congress might provide support, whether through increased funding or other legislative resources.
“This president has now had three failed assassination attempts…this can’t go on. He’s the most attacked, maligned political figure in history. He’s very resilient, but he needs greater protection,” he said. “I think there’s going to be a reevaluation, a very close reevaluation of how we handle these large events.”
“We’ll continue to do what we can in Congress, but we need the leaders obviously of the Secret Service to tighten up, and they’ve got to reevaluate these things,” Johnson added. “We’re grateful as always for the law enforcement and first responders who acted so quickly to bring the situation under control. Praying for our country tonight.”
President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social on Sunday pointing out the need for a secure ballroom to be built on the White House grounds. Additionally, Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) also made the same point with a post to X on Sunday.
“We were there front and center. That venue wasn’t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government,” he said. “After witnessing last night, drop the TDS and build the White House ballroom for events exactly like these.”
Johnson later emphasized that Fetterman “is a rare voice” among his party, arguing that his Democrat colleagues have consistently “incited violence” against Trump, the administration, and conservatives alike.
“We have seen the rhetoric dialed up to a fever pitch. You have some of the most prominent figures in the House and the Senate on the Democrat side effectively calling for war—I mean, they use those kinds of metaphors—and it incites violence. When you tell people that the opposition is an ‘existential threat to democracy’ or that they must be ‘stopped at all costs,’ you are providing the spark for the kind of tragedy we saw on Saturday night.”
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