Presidency of David Johnson

> *For a chronological guide to this subject, see Timeline of the David Johnson presidency.*
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The **presidency of David Johnson** began at noon EST on January 20, 2021, when he was inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States, and ended on January 20, 2029. Johnson, a Democrat from Michigan, took office following a decisive victory over the incumbent President George Williams in the 2020 presidential election. Four years later, he was reelected by an even larger margin in 2024, against his Republican opponent, .

Johnson took office amid an economic recession and a widespread healthcare crisis. During Johnson's first term, he passed a sweeping economic and infrastructure plan known as the American Investment Act of 2021, along with new regulations on Wall Street and large corporations. He enacted electoral and ethics reforms such as the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, the For the People Act, and the , and he admitted D.C. as a U.S. state in 2021. Johnson also passed the United States National Health Care Act, otherwise known as Medicare for All, in early 2022, which established a single-payer universal healthcare system in the United States, and in that same year, the healthcare crisis ended. Johnson enacted a sweeping police reform package known as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and passed the Equality Act, which prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Johnson signed a law legalizing cannabis and other drugs for medical and recreational use across the U.S., and Johnson appointed \*\*\*\*\*\*\* to the U.S. Supreme Court upon Stephen Breyer's retirement in 2022.

Johnson ended U.S. involvement in the War in Afghanistan in mid-2021, rejoined the Paris Climate Accord, reaffirmed protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, halted construction of the Williams border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, ended the national emergency at the southern border declared by the Williams administration, ending the Williams travel ban imposed on predominantly Muslim countries, and enacted the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021.

In Johnson's second term, he . Johnson admitted Puerto Rico as a U.S. state in 2025. Johnson appointed \*\*\*\*\* to the U.S. Supreme Court upon Samuel Alito's retirement in 2026, and \*\*\*\*\*\*\* upon Clarence Thomas' retirement in 2028. He also enacted term limits for United States senators, representatives, and Supreme Court justices. Amid the worsening climate crisis, Johnson enacted the Green New Deal, therefore decarbonizing the country, and the economic instability and poverty that came from it was quickly subverted by a federal jobs guarantee and new subsidies given for companies to construct renewable energy plants all across the country, creating millions of new jobs.

During Johnson's presidency, he signed off on three constitutional amendments, such as the 28th amendment, requiring term limits for United States senators, representatives, and Supreme Court justices, along with an amendment

## Administration

### Cabinet

> *Main article: Cabinet of Sherlock Johnson*
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President-elect Johnson announced his first nominee for his Cabinet on November 14, 2020, eleven days after the election, which was outgoing Alabama Senator Doug Jones for Attorney General, and on November 15, he nominated Robert Reich to be the Secretary of Labor under his administration. On November 16, Johnson announced that he chose Janet Yellen for Secretary of the Treasury

## Judicial appointments

After the death of Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on September 18, 2020, President Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett to succeed her position on the Supreme Court, but many Senate Democrats, along with a few Senate Republicans (Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, and others) voted against her confirmation, effectively defeating her confirmation by a vote of 51-49, stating that "the president who wins the upcoming presidential election should decide this matter." After David Johnson was elected President, he nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to fill the vacant seat on the Supreme Court on February 10, 2021. She was confirmed to the Supreme Court by the U.S. Senate on April 4 by a vote of 56-44.

### Supreme Court nominations

* Johnson nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson in February 2021 to fill the vacancy left by the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September 2020, which had not been filled in by Williams as the confirmation of his nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, was defeated in a vote by the U.S. Senate. Jackson was confirmed in April 2021 by a vote of 56-44.
* Johnson nominated \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* in April 2022 to replace retiring justice Stephen Breyer. The Senate confirmed \*\*\*\*\*\* in June 2022 by a vote of \*\*-\*\*.
* Johnson nominated \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* in December 2026 to replace retiring justice Samuel Alito. The Senate confirmed \*\*\*\*\*\* in March 2027 by a vote of \*\*-\*\*.
* Johnson nominated \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* in July 2028 to replace retiring justice Clarence Thomas. The Senate confirmed \*\*\*\*\*\* in September 2028 by a vote of \*\*-\*\*.

## Domestic policy

### Economy

#### American Investment Act

On February 27, 2021, one month after Johnson took office, he unveiled his economic plan to Congress during a joint session speech, calling it the "American Investment Act of 2021."

On March 14, 2021, the House of Representatives voted 320 to 115 to pass the American Investment Act through the House, with two House Republicans voting for the bill, one Independent voting against it, and four House Democrats voting against it. Afterwards, it was introduced to the Senate two days later.

On March 23, 2021, the Senate voted 56 to 44 to pass the American Investment Act along strict party lines, with no Democratic or Independent Senator voting against it, and no Republican Senator voting for it. The next day, on March 24, 2021, Johnson signed it into law outside the White House near the Rose Garden after him, Vice President Steiner, five House Democrats and four Senate Democrats delivered remarks live on television concerning the American Investment Act.

## Foreign policy

### Afghanistan

> Main article: War in Afghanistan
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### Israel / Palestine

In May 2021, amid the 2021 Israel-Palestine crisis, President Johnson released a statement, condemning Hama's rocket attacks on Israel, while also expressing his support for Palestinians' right to land, and condemned Israel's eviction of Palestinian residents in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. Johnson also called for an end to the violence and expressed his hope to find a solution where the Israelis and Palestinians could co-exist peacefully. Many notable Republicans, along with some of his fellow Democrats, combined of pro-Israel and pro-Palestine Democrats, criticized Johnson's response for being "tone-deaf" and "weak," alleging that it was not going far enough.

## Elections during the Johnson presidency

### 2028 elections and transition period

#### **Farewell address**

> *Main article: Sherlock Johnson's farewell address*
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## Public opinion and legacy

Throughout Johnson's presidency, he enjoyed a high and consistent approval rating, notably higher and more stable than Williams'. When Johnson took office, and during his first 100 days, his approval rating averaged around 61%, with a 98% approval rating from Democrats, a 69% approval rating from Independents, and a 18% approval rating from Republicans.