“The way I view this is that China, Russia, Iran and North Korea are engaged in a new axis, Axis powers, and they are not on America’s side.”
If you wonder why he makes the distinction with the "new Axis", it's because America is now very close to the old one from 85 years ago.
the speaker of the House praised the president for his peacemaking efforts but said Putin was an “old school communist” and aggressor in the war with Ukraine.
So don't get your hopes up that he has seen the light. He's a Republican so hopelessly confused about what Trump is, what Putin is, and what a communist is.
Oh the guy that blocked Ukraine funding for months? What a warrior for democracy he is.
Oh dear... One teeny tiny spark of integrity and poof goes one promising sycophant's career...
It's just talk for the audience to chew on, measure by action
Even if there's no action it does still matter in so far as it reminds you that Trump is not all-powerful. Trump wants to present the appearance of 100% power so that everyone obeys before he actually has to make them (which he might not be able to do)
Words going against him from major Republicans indirectly normalize others resisting in ways that actually matter
Edit: Which is not to say that Mike Johnson shouldn't take action (he should), just not to discount the importance of normalizing criticism when Trump's strategy is to go high speed and make it seem like no one is fighting back
Fingers crossed!