Biography Flash: Benny Johnson Ignites MAGA Firestorm, Clashes with Jen Psaki

Benny Johnson has had a hectic and headline-grabbing week, cementing his role as one of the most controversial and visible MAGA influencers on the right. The biggest story over the past 24 hours is his fiery, meme-laden segment on his show targeting MSNBC host Jen Psaki. Johnson went after Psaki after she used her platform to criticize his appearance at a White House press briefing, where he asked whether former President Trump would consider awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Edward "Big Balls" Coristine—a teenager who survived a violent carjacking attack in D.C. Psaki’s on-air reaction was one of disbelief, calling Johnson's question “insane,” while Johnson claimed his question “broke” her and he played a host of mocking memes including a viral edit with Psaki’s face superimposed on Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” video. This segment drew widespread attention on social media.

Johnson has been pushing the narrative that Trump should use Coristine’s ordeal as evidence for a federal crackdown on D.C. crime, closely aligning himself with the former president’s latest law-and-order rhetoric. Trump himself shared a photo of Coristine after the attack and indicated he personally called the teen, further amplifying Johnson’s position and giving their crusade even more oxygen.

In the past few days, Johnson has also been caught in controversy yet again following outrage over his comments about bulldozing and “sweeping clean” D.C. neighborhoods, language many critics and outlets like Outside the Beltway have described as racially charged and reminiscent of calls for ethnic cleansing. Johnson explicitly blamed the city’s crime issues on demographic changes linked to the Civil Rights era, spurring a fresh round of condemnation and debate online and in the press.

On the business and social engagement front, Johnson continues to leverage his large following—including 2.7 million on X—to shape right-wing narratives. He launched a high-engagement Instagram Reel giving props to “@diaperdiplomacy,” and his interview with House Speaker Mike Johnson was recently highlighted by ABC News, where the Speaker made pointed remarks about law enforcement and federal powers.

It’s also worth noting Johnson’s persistent efforts to cultivate new right-wing media personalities and his collaborations with figures like comedian Terrence K. Williams and David Harris Jr., both of whom have amplified his recent posts.

Speculation and unconfirmed reports swirl over whether Johnson’s rhetoric will translate into more formal advisory or media roles with Trump’s campaign or a new administration—Johnson himself has not confirmed anything official, but the volume and alignment are hard to ignore.

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