House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., voiced his longstanding belief on Tuesday that the commonly held understanding of the separation of church and state is a misnomer, emphasizing the need for religious principles to play a role in public life.
In an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Speaker Johnson challenged the interpretation of the phrase, stating, “The separation of church and state is a misnomer. People misunderstand it.” He clarified that the phrase originates from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson and is not explicitly stated in the Constitution. Johnson asserted that Jefferson’s intention was to prevent government intrusion into religious affairs rather than to exclude faith-based principles from influencing public life.
Reflecting on the nation’s founding principles, Johnson highlighted the founders’ belief that religion and morality were integral to the government’s functioning. “They knew that it would be important to maintain our system,” he said. “And that’s why I think we need more of that — not an establishment of any national religion — but we need everybody’s vibrant expression of faith because it’s such an important part of who we are as a nation.”
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The discussion arose when the host recalled Johnson’s act of prayer on the House floor following his swearing-in last month.
While acknowledging that the specific phrase “separation of church and state” is absent from the Constitution, legal scholars often interpret it as a reference to the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment.
Speaker Johnson, who has dedicated the past two decades to advocating for religious freedom, particularly in public schools and government, expressed his views on the matter. As an attorney for the conservative Christian group Alliance Defense Fund (now known as Alliance Defending Freedom), he criticized the use of the “misleading” separation of church and state metaphor to intimidate public officials and censor religious individuals.
In 2017, Johnson and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, both Republicans, collaborated on guidelines supporting the lawful study of the Bible or religion in public schools. Johnson argued that censoring such studies is both unwise and unnecessary.
In various public statements and editorials, Johnson consistently emphasized the importance of religious freedom and criticized instances where religious expressions were suppressed. He argued for the appropriateness of Bible study in public schools, citing its historical significance and influence.
Throughout his career, Johnson has stood firm on his beliefs, even expressing outrage in 2019 when “so help me God” was omitted from the swearing-in of witnesses during a House committee hearing. He characterized the omission as part of a coordinated effort by Democrats to remove that phrase from congressional language, emphasizing its constitutional and historical significance.
