Former Republican U.S. Representative Joe Scarborough (R-FL), co-host of Morning Joe, accused U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) of intentionally lying by echoing President Trump’s attack portraying Democrats as Communists and “anti-American.”
When Johnson circulated a list on social media which he claimed is Democrats’ “far-left, anti-American agenda,” Scarborough replied on social media: “Mike, this is a lie. You know it’s a lie. And you keep spreading the lie. What would Jesus do? Not this.”
Scarborough added: “These radical positions are policies of the DSA, not the Democratic Party. However, your party just seized 7 more private companies in a naked socialist seizure of business.”
Mike, this is a lie. You know it’s a lie. And you keep spreading the lie. What would Jesus do? Not this.
These radical positions are policies of the DSA, not the Democratic Party.
However, your party just seized 7 more private companies in a naked socialist seizure of… https://t.co/c8NfIbVfXS
— Joe Scarborough (@ScarboroughNow) July 30, 2026
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) national co-chair Megan Romer last week confirmed on Fox News that the political organization is in favor of abolishing the Senate (the first item on Johnson’s list), and added “we want to expand Congress significantly, but make it a unicameral legislature.”
[NOTE: The administration is not seizing companies, but it has taken equity positions in numerous tech and semiconductor companies, notably Intel. Critics assert that the positions were acquired heavy-handedly, using regulatory authority and government contracts to apply pressure.]
Supporting Scarborough’s point, there are only two officially affiliated members of the DSA serving in Congress: Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY) and Rashida Tlaib (MI). Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) says he’s a Democratic Socialist, but is not a member of DSA.
Veteran of the conservative movement Gregg Nunziata has also criticized Johnson for maligning the Democrats as communists, writing: “A deeply dishonorable gentleman. Just a disgrace.”
A deeply dishonorable gentleman. Just a disgrace. https://t.co/8ARqrXTGXz
— Gregg Nunziata (@greggnunziata) July 27, 2026
Nunziata added, “Does the @SpeakerJohnson really believe that half his colleagues and half the country are *for* a murderous anti Christian ideology? If not, does he not see how wildly irresponsible and corrosive it is to say so for electoral gain?”
Democrats and Republicans alike have criticized the Trump administration for acquiring percentages of U.S. companies, in what many describe as “a socialist move.”
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) wrote: “If socialism is government owning the means of production, wouldn’t the government owning part of Intel be a step toward socialism?” He added, “Terrible idea.”