Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) made up a phone call for more than a minute to avoid answering a question about House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) recent comments on Social Security.
Johnson said in an interview with a Louisiana radio station on Monday that Republicans need to fix government spending by changing entitlement programs.
He said, “The reason we are in trouble is because over 74 percent of federal spending is on autopilot, mandatory spending.
That’s your entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid and then things like Social Security. They have to be adjusted and fixed.”
His comments upset Democrats.
A liberal news site called MeidasTouch asked Wittman about the remarks on Tuesday, calling Johnson’s comments a “secret plan.”
The reporter asked, “Congressman, what is Mike Johnson’s secret plan to cut Social Security?”
Before the question was finished, Wittman, who was still walking while the reporter followed, pulled out his phone, tapped it once, and held it to his ear.
He said, “Hello,” and then, “Hey, how you doing?
I’m good. I’m good with that.”
But the phone screen stayed on and visible, showing something that wasn’t a real call.
The screen changed a few times during the “call,” probably because Wittman was accidentally tapping it with his ear. When the “call” ended, Wittman didn’t hang up, just swiped away from the screen to go back to his home screen.
The fake call lasted a long time while the reporter kept asking Wittman about Johnson’s comments.
Read their continued exchange below:
WITTMAN: Yeah, I’ll be there in just a few minutes.
REPORTER: No response, Sir?
WITTMAN: I’m heading your way right now. Yeah, it’s over at four sixteen?
REPORTER: Congressman, what is Mike Johnson’s secret plan to cut Social Security?
WITTMAN: Listen, I appreciate that. I’ve got some more efforts that I want to speak to you about. There are actually more things that we have to be working on. Yeah, I want to make sure that we’re–
REPORTER: No response, Sir?
WITTMAN: Yeah, listen, thanks. I appreciate your help on this. I really do need– I really do need some more of your input. Yeah, if you can– if you can actually reach out I’ll make sure that we do more of this. Yeah, listen, I really appreciate it. Thank you. Yes. Yes, believe me I understand. There’s more of those things that we need to work on. Yes. Well, thank you. Thanks again. I appreciate it. Thank you.
REPORTER: Congressman, what is Mike Johnson’s secret plan to cut Social Security?
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