Mike Johnson refuses to condemn anti-Muslim comments by Republican lawmakers

Mike Johnson, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, on Tuesday declined to condemn Republican lawmakers who recently made Islamophobic comments, saying only that he had spoken to them about their “tone”.

Democrats and groups advocating religious tolerance have decried the statements from congressmen Andy Ogles of Tennessee and Randy Fine of Florida, with the House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, calling on Johnson to discipline the latter.

But the Republican speaker showed little interest in doing so when he was asked about the issue at a press conference during the House GOP’s retreat in Doral, Florida.

“I’ve spoken to those members and all members, as I always do, about our tone and our message and what we say,” Johnson said.