Who is Mike Johnson? House Speaker set for State of the Union

President Donald Trump isn't the only one with a role to play in the State of the Union.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican representing Louisiana, is set to welcome Trump to the House chamber on Feb. 24 for the State of the Union address. The speech to a joint session of Congress is required by the U.S. Constitution, which directs the president to keep lawmakers informed about the state of the nation and propose legislative priorities.

Here's what to know about Johnson and his role in the State of the Union.

Who is Mike Johnson?

Johnson is a Republican and the 56th speaker of the House of Representatives. He is the first person from Louisiana to hold the role.

Johnson represents the state's fourth district. He was first elected in 2016 and is currently serving his sixth term. Before his election to Congress in 2016, Johnson was an attorney and served in the Louisiana State Legislature from 2015 to 2017, according to the House of Representatives. Johnson was elected speaker on Oct. 25, 2023.

Johnson has been a staunch supporter of Trump. However, the House holds a slim GOP majority that threatens to wane in the 2026 midterms, complicating his and Trump's ability to pursue a legislative agenda.

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What is the House Speaker?

The speaker represents the majority political party in the House of Representatives and directs business on the House floor, managing legislative processes among the House, the Senate and White House. The speaker is also the second in line of succession should the president and vice president become unable to serve in office.

The Constitution’s Article 1, Section 2, grants the House of Representatives the power to choose the speaker, as well as the power of presidential impeachment.

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What is the House speaker's role at the SOTU?

The House speaker plays an important role in helping the executive branch convey its annual address on the nation's affairs and to lay out the administration's policy agenda.

Under the Constitution, the executive, legislative and judicial branches are separate branches of government power. For this reason, the speaker must invite the president to Congress to deliver the speech.

Johnson invited Trump to deliver this year’s address on Jan. 7 via letter. Johnson posted a copy of the invitation sent to the president on X. In it, the speaker praised Trump for his “bold action” and leadership.

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Historically, the speaker helps coordinate messaging from party members leading up to the address and on the day of the event, according to Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy. The speaker isn't always from the same political party as the president. But this year, they are both Republicans.

That means Johnson serves as the congressional agent for the aims and goals Trump will lay out in his address. Lawmakers and Americans watching from home can expect to see Johnson stand up, clap or convey support to agenda items Trump outlines as he sits with Vice President JD Vance on a raised platform behind the president, according to Rock the Vote. He is expressing his intent to make Trump's agenda happen on the legislative side.

Is this Johnson's first SOTU?

Johnson's first State of the Union as House Speaker came in March 2024, when then-President Joe Biden delivered the address, which was the final one of his term.

Johnson was also in attendance in March 2025, when Trump delivered a speech about what he's done since taking office in January and his agenda for the next four years. But the event was not technically a State of the Union address since it came less than two months after Trump was sworn in for his second term. That means the address on Feb. 24 will be the first official State of the Union of Trump's second term, and the first official one of this administration that Johnson attends.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is the House Speaker Mike Johnson? Louisiana lawmaker, Trump ally