OOF: Mike Johnson Gets Super Awkward When His Teleprompter Shuts Down

The House speaker seemed ill-equipped for a tech problem during the Republican National Convention.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) suffered an awkward moment on Monday, during the first day of the Republican National Convention, when his teleprompter failed.

Johnson announced that Donald Trump had secured the nomination and began to introduce the next speaker.

“It is now my honor to introduce the attorney general. And there goes the teleprompter,” he said, never naming the attorney general (Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, for the record).

Then, he walked off the stage as the band played.

the RNC teleprompter goes out and Mike Johnson has to immediately flee the stage. yikes pic.twitter.com/oBsx9l15gH

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 15, 2024

There was an extended delay, with the band continuing to play for much of the time.

Johnson’s inability to cope without a teleprompter was a little ironic, given Republican criticism of President Joe Biden’s reliance on the device during his events.

Johnson himself made a crack that effect earlier this month:

Johnson two weeks ago: Unless the president is reading off a teleprompter, I don't think he's capable of making these big decisions.

Johnson today: There’s goes the teleprompter. *retreats off stage* pic.twitter.com/7WNAE0Se2n

— Acyn (@Acyn) July 15, 2024
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