A candid moment between Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson was caught on a hot mic ahead of President Donald Trump’s record-breaking address to Congress on Tuesday night. The exchange revealed Vance’s honest reaction to the prospect of sitting through what turned out to be the longest presidential address to Congress in history.
“I Don’t Know How You Do This” – Vance’s Off-the-Cuff Comment
Before Trump took the stage, a live microphone picked up Vance telling Johnson, “By the way, I think the speech is going to be great. But I don’t know how you do this for 90 minutes.” Johnson, appearing to acknowledge the challenge, then lowered the active microphone.
Johnson also took a jab at past presidential speeches, replying, “The hardest thing was doing it during Biden, when the speech was a stupid campaign speech.”
Trump’s speech ended up lasting a staggering one hour and 40 minutes, surpassing the previous record held by former President Bill Clinton, who spoke for one hour and 28 minutes during a State of the Union address.
Trump’s Address: Lengthy but with Lower TV Ratings
Despite the historic length, Trump’s speech pulled in an estimated 36.6 million viewers—lower than the audience numbers for his previous four addresses to Congress, according to USA TODAY.
During his address, Trump touched on key topics, including tariffs, inflation, immigration, anti-DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies, and proposed budget cuts to federal programs. His speech was aimed at reinforcing his administration’s priorities while setting the stage for his reelection campaign.
Mixed Reactions to the Speech
While Trump’s supporters praised the speech for its strong stance on economic and immigration policies, critics argued that it was overly long and felt more like a campaign rally than a formal address to Congress.
The candid exchange between Vance and Johnson adds an amusing layer to the event, highlighting the endurance it takes to sit through lengthy political speeches—especially in the high-pressure world of Washington politics.
As Trump continues to shape his political message heading into the next election, one thing is clear: whether you love or hate his speeches, they’re always a talking point.
