A “c*m trophy” controversy isn’t stopping Mike Johnson from backing this gun-loving YouTuber

Mike Johnson doesn’t have the greatest track record when it comes to uplifting fellow Republican voices. But his latest endorsement feels not only worse than usual, but almost out of character.

In a desperate bid to stop Texas from turning blue, Johnson is standing ten toes down behind his decision to endorse House candidate and firearms YouTuber Brandon Herrera.

Herrera, a Joe Rogan-esque figure, rose to prominence on YouTube after starting his channel in 2014. In the nearly 15 years since, Herrera, aka “The AK Guy,” has voiced several of his stank opinions online, including his belief that children are no more than “c*m trophies.”

He has also come after feminists advocating for stricter gun regulation, launched fatphobic and sexist slurs at activists, and voiced his appreciation for a Nazi-era firearm. He has also joked about “abolishing” the elderly and using unhoused individuals for target practice.

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“Just because you let somebody cream-pie you doesn’t mean I have to give a sh*t about your political opinions,” Herrera claimed in a 2023 upload. “The fact that you kept your c*m trophy doesn’t make you any less wrong about the dumb sh*t that you say.”

Charming! But evidently Johnson, a devout Christian and self-proclaimed family man, sees no problem endorsing Herrera for the seat.

To be fair, Johnson doesn’t exactly have a choice. In March, his original pick, Rep. Tony Gonzalez, left the race after sexual misconduct allegations. But you still have to wonder: was Herrera really the only other choice?

This week, CNN anchor pressed Johnson about his decision to stand behind Herrera, forcing the House Speaker to cringe through several past clips of Herrera’s most incendiary moments—including the infamous “c*m trophy” statement.

“I know you’re not a voter in that district,” Tapper said, “you didn’t nominate this guy, but I was surprised to see you endorse him and fundraise for him.”

Johnson responds in usual c*ckservative fashion. “He was a podcaster and a provocateur,” he says, “that’s not the way I speak or think…that was his persona online. Now he’s running as a very serious candidate and a very thoughtful guy.”

Johnson also reiterated that the midterms are a “contrast election between common sense and crazy.” Interestingly, he failed to delineate which party stands for which.

Surprisingly, for all the gross statements Herrera has bandied about online, the Matt Gaetz-allied libertarian hasn’t said too much about queer people or LGBTQ+ rights. He has, however, made plenty of comments about “angry blue-haired feminists”, a classic anti-woke (and specifically anti-queer) dog whistle.

The dangerous part is that Herrera is running on a broader gun rights platform in a state that loves its guns—and hates the left’s attempts to restrict firearm access.

“Brandon is strongly supported by many Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in Texas, and Republicans in the US House,” Tr*mp recently wrote on Truth Social, promising that Herrera “will never let you down.”

Will he let the GOP down? With James Talarico taking a promising lead in the polls and Texas in true toss-up territory, it’s anybody’s guess.

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