House Speaker Mike Johnson has made it clear he doesn’t want to discuss former President Donald Trump’s controversial rally comments about legendary golfer Arnold Palmer’s manhood. Johnson became visibly annoyed when CNN host Jake Tapper brought up the topic during a segment on State of the Union, asking for Johnson’s reaction to Trump’s story praising Palmer’s “unbelievable” physique, specifically mentioning the golfer’s genitalia.

At a rally, Trump recalled a story about Palmer, claiming that other golfers who showered with him were stunned by his size, exclaiming, “Oh my God, that’s unbelievable.” He also referred to Palmer as “all man.” This comment has sparked debate about whether it’s an appropriate message to share, especially with Election Day just weeks away.

Tapper referred to an Associated Press article that led with a summary of Trump’s rally, noting that instead of previewing his final campaign arguments, Trump launched into a detailed story about Palmer, even commenting on the golfer’s anatomy. Tapper asked Johnson, “Is this really the closing message you want voters to hear from Donald Trump — stories about Arnold Palmer’s penis?”

Attempting to steer the conversation toward policy, Johnson dodged the question. “The real question is, are Americans better off now than they were four years ago under the Trump administration?” he said, referencing a Fox News headline. Interestingly, that article did not mention Trump’s controversial remarks, although Fox’s sports section did cover them.

Tapper wasn’t willing to let Johnson evade the issue. He pressed further, noting that if President Joe Biden had made similar comments, Republicans would likely be outraged and questioning his cognitive abilities. Tapper argued that the speaker’s dismissive attitude was inconsistent and driven by partisanship.

Johnson, now clearly irritated, snapped back, “Jake, you seem to enjoy that line a lot.” He went on to defend Trump, saying the former president speaks extemporaneously at his rallies, which can last for up to two hours. Johnson insisted that Trump’s off-the-cuff remarks are part of the entertainment, adding, “I’ve been at those events, and people have a great time.”

He then attempted to downplay the significance of Trump’s comments, accusing Tapper of “cherry-picking” one remark from a long event. Johnson argued that the focus should be on substantive issues, not the occasional inappropriate comment. However, Tapper pointed out that not all rally attendees enjoy Trump’s freewheeling style, with some people leaving early due to the insults and the former president’s tendency to start events late.