On Thursday (May 22), at three o’clock in the morning, just a few hours before the House of Representatives would vote on the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” proposed by President Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson hurriedly made his way through the halls of Congress to the prayer room. There, he prayed and answered questions from reporters regarding his religious beliefs, the turmoil in politics, and his leadership principles.
He mentioned that he visited the prayer room solely for the purpose of praying. The prayer room, renovated in the 1950s, is located adjacent to the Speaker’s office suite on the second floor of the House of Representatives, towards the western end near the National Mall.
Describing the room as akin to a grand cathedral at night, Johnson reflected on the beauty of the place, admitting to visiting it numerous times that week to kneel in prayer, much like the founding fathers had done.
Above the small altar in the prayer room hangs a stained glass portrait of America’s first president, George Washington, depicting his towering figure kneeling in the snow, praying to God.
Johnson emphasized the tradition of seeking divine guidance in times of great challenges, drawing parallels between the actions of the founding fathers and his own beliefs in leading the nation towards salvation, believing that it is a divine opportunity bestowed upon them.
As a conservative Christian, Johnson stands out among former Speakers of the House for his outspoken religious faith. Elected as the Republican leader rather unexpectedly about two years prior, he was embraced by his Republican colleagues who prayed for him during the election process, while he humbly referred to himself as a “servant.”
Determined to shepherd Trump’s bill through the House of Representatives, Johnson set a deadline for himself—Memorial Day. Despite strong opposition from Democrats and dissenters within the Republican Party, he remained steadfast in his pursuit, unwavering in his dedication to prayer.
When questioned about his fears, he expressed his unwavering resolve, stating that completing their mission to save the nation was imperative above all else.
Johnson articulated his firm belief in the principles upon which America was founded, asserting that their daily efforts in Congress were aimed at restoring these principles bit by bit.
Regarding concerns about individuals losing access to Medicaid and food stamps, he emphasized the need to focus resources on vulnerable populations due to limitations in funding.
Under the new tax law, able-bodied adults under 64 without dependents would need to work or perform 80 hours of community service monthly to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, with some exceptions. Parents caring for children over 7 years old would also need to meet work requirements for SNAP eligibility.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated that under the proposed bill, approximately 8.6 million people would lose eligibility for Medicaid, while 3 million individuals would no longer receive SNAP benefits each month.
Johnson argued that individuals must work diligently as it preserves their dignity and aids in achieving personal goals, creating a win-win-win scenario.
The debate in Congress unfolds against a backdrop of questioning traditional values, not only in the United States but also globally.
House Democrats have been at odds with Johnson and his party, deriding the tax and expenditure bill as a “big, ugly bill,” refusing to make any moral concessions to the Republicans or Trump.
During Thursday’s debate, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, a federal representative from New York, asserted that taking food from the mouths of children and ordinary Americans in the richest country in world history was disgraceful.
Referencing the faith of everyone within the chamber, he cited Matthew 25:35–40, emphasizing Jesus’s teachings on the importance of standing up for the weakest, lost, forgotten, poor, sick, suffering, homeless, imprisoned, and foreigners in a foreign land.
Jeffries continued by noting the hypocrisy of some individuals attending synagogues, mosques, or churches, like himself, praying on Sundays only to spend the rest of their time in Washington, D.C., essentially plundering the American people.
In the early hours of Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” with a vote of 215 to 214, sending it to the Senate for review.