Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) is facing stark criticism for his remarks explaining why he did not feel threatened when an angry mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol to hinder the Electoral College certification. Twitter users were not happy with his remarks and wasted no time expressing their disdain.
During an AM radio interview on the Joe Pags Show, Johnson suggested that he was not concerned about the Capitol rioters because they were not Black Lives Matter protesters or members of Antifa.
"I knew those were people that loved this country, that truly respect law enforcement, would never do anything to break the law, so I wasn't concerned," Johnson said. "Had the tables been turned, and President Trump won the election and those were tens of thousands of Black Lives Matter and Antifa protesters, I might have been a little concerned."
As Johnson's remarks began circulating on social media, Twitter users quickly fired back with critical responses to the Wisconsin senator's perspective.
"Ron Johnson said that he was not scared during the Jan.6 insurrection because all the seditionists were white," comedian Rob Reiner tweeted. "But he said if they were Black, he would have been frightened. He actually said that out loud. Republicans are not even bothering to hide their racism."
Ron Johnson said that he was not scared during the Jan.6 insurrection because all the seditionists were white. But he said if they were Black, he would have been frightened. He actually said that out loud. Republicans are not even bothering to hide their racism.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) March 13, 2021
Another user noted how the demographical shifts in the United States may also lead to more blatant forms of racism. "As the demographics continue to shift and the white protestant majority continues to shrink, it will get progressively more vile & open," one user wrote. "This idea that Republicans are nice people who have a different political belief needs to stop. They want apartheid rule."
As the demographics continue to shift and the white protestant majority continues to shrink, it will get progressively more vile & open.
— Gopjail (@gopjail) March 13, 2021
This idea that republicans are nice people who have a different political belief needs to stop. They want apartheid rule.
I’m speechless. RON JOHNSON IS A UNITED STATES SENATOR. He should be held to a higher level of decency. That he has no fear of the consequences of his statements is alarming. To be this openly racist is alarming.
— Wendywink (@Wendywink11) March 13, 2021
And he said they weren’t the type of people to break the law..... so beating police officers with American Flags isn’t against the law now?
— Terrie Dahl-Thomas (@DahlTerrie) March 13, 2021
@RonJohnsonWI is throwing up a *racist smoke screen* to cover up the fact that he knew exactly why the mob was at the Capitol. @Maddow Ron Johnson wasn't afraid because he knew who the targets were since he was in on the insurrection.
— MT *Pass John Lewis VRA* Nestor👁👂👃👇 (@MTNestor08) March 13, 2021
Senator Ron Johnson wasn't afraid of Trump's Terrorists storming the Capital because Ron Johnson was literally involved in the coup attempt by voting to block Certification of President Biden's Electoral College Victory.
— Jay Pealer (@JayPealer) March 13, 2021
Others also recalled Republican lawmakers' previous attempts to blame Antifa for the Capitol riots which raise more questions about Johnson's remarks. One Twitter user noted, "Didn't he say during impeachment hearing that Antifa was in the crowd Jan 6th and caused the violence. If that is what he really thought, based on his logic he should have feared the crowd. He is just like Trump, contradicts himself."
Didn't he say during impeachment hearing that Antifa was in the crowd Jan 6th and caused the violence. If that is what he really thought, based on his logic he should have feared the crowd. He is just like Trump, contradicts himself.
— Mike C (@MikeC22453774) March 13, 2021
Johnson has not yet responded to the critical reactions about his radio interview.
