A top aide to House Speaker Mike Johnson and other congressional staffers planned to jet off on a luxurious tour through Italy and France two weeks before the midterms, a new report alleges. The official trip promised a visit to a Ferrari factory near Bologna, day trips to France's Champagne region, and stops at luxury brands in Milan or Florence, NBC News reports, citing a memo including a draft itinerary. Given Johnson's role in cheerleading Trump's agenda, the memo offered a striking rationale for the weeklong trip: engaging with European countries on matters related to the impact of the president's tariffs.
After NBC News asked about the trip, Johnson's office said Wednesday that it had been called off because of a conflict.