GOP Speaker Johnson Raises Concerns About Sharia Law Following Representative’s Anti-Muslim Post

House Speaker Mike Johnson has raised concerns about what he describes as the threat of Sharia law in the United States, stating it contradicts foundational American principles and constitutional values.

“There’s a lot of energy in the country and a lot of popular sentiment that the demand to impose Sharia law in America is a serious problem,” Johnson told reporters during a news conference at House Republicans’ annual policy retreat in Miami. “I think that that’s a serious issue. Sharia law and the imposition of Sharia law is contrary to the U.S. Constitution.”

Johnson’s comments came in response to questions regarding controversial statements made by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), who recently posted on social media platform X that “Muslims don’t belong in American society.” The Tennessee congressman’s remarks sparked immediate backlash from Democratic lawmakers, with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) calling on Johnson to “speak out against this hate.”

Rather than directly condemning Ogles’ statement, Johnson acknowledged he would have used “different language” but suggested the congressman was referring to immigrants who refuse to assimilate to American values.

“When you seek to come to a country and not assimilate, but to impose Sharia law — Sharia law is in conflict with the U.S. Constitution. That is the conflict that people are talking about,” Johnson explained. “It is not about people as Muslims. It’s about those who seek to impose a different belief system that is in direct conflict with the Constitution.”

Ogles has remained unapologetic about his comments, responding to criticism with another post saying, “My comments wouldn’t even be a news story if I had said this about Christians. Please spare me your moral outrage. Cry harder.”

The exchange highlights growing rhetoric among some conservative lawmakers regarding Islamic law. In recent months, Representatives Keith Self and Chip Roy, both Republicans from Texas, have moved to establish what they call a “Sharia-free America Caucus” focused on what they describe as defending Western civilization.

Sharia broadly refers to a code of ethics and conduct followed by devout Muslims in their daily lives. However, Sharia law more specifically often describes the legal framework implemented in non-secular Islamic countries, such as Iran. Constitutional scholars note that America’s guarantees of religious freedom and separation of church and state prohibit the implementation of religious law at any governmental level in the United States.

The First Amendment explicitly protects religious freedom while preventing government from establishing or promoting any particular religion. Legal experts consistently point out that existing constitutional protections would prevent the implementation of religious law as a replacement for civil or criminal statutes.

Muslim civil rights organizations have repeatedly expressed concern that such rhetoric mischaracterizes Islam and unfairly targets Muslim Americans. These groups maintain that American Muslims, like other religious groups, seek to practice their faith while fully participating in and respecting American civic life and its constitutional framework.

The discourse occurs amid increased attention to immigration policies and religious integration, with some Republican lawmakers increasingly framing certain religious practices as potentially incompatible with American values. Critics argue such characterizations oversimplify complex religious traditions and risk stigmatizing entire faith communities.

As partisan discussions about religion and integration continue to feature prominently in political discourse, constitutional scholars emphasize that America’s legal system remains firmly grounded in secular law, with strong protections against the imposition of any religious legal system.