Rep. Dusty Johnson, a South Dakota Republican serving his fourth term in the U.S. House, has issued a stark warning about the nation's approach to competition with China, arguing that the United States is routinely underestimating the geopolitical and economic threat posed by Beijing. In a recent interview at Freedom Fest in Las Vegas, Johnson described the current American posture as one of complacency, saying the country is essentially «sleepwalking through this competition.»
«Every day the leaders of China get up, and they try to figure out how to beat America, how to destabilize our country, how to get an advantage,» Johnson said. «And we're, frankly, in this country spending more time fighting one another than we are trying to think about how to compete with the Chinese Communist Party.» The congressman, who has emerged as a leading voice on U.S.-China relations and agricultural policy, emphasized that the internal political divisions in Washington are hampering the nation's ability to respond effectively to Beijing's strategic ambitions.
Johnson, a former leader of the Republican Main Street Caucus, has built a reputation as a pragmatic, center-right lawmaker focused on breaking the partisan gridlock that often paralyzes Congress. However, he acknowledged that the current political climate makes it difficult for moderate voices to be heard. «It's a tough time to be normal,» he observed, pointing to recent primary elections where more extreme candidates have gained traction. He noted that in both parties, primary voters tend to prioritize ideological purity over progress, making it challenging for lawmakers who advocate for nuance and compromise.
The congressman also addressed the persistent issue of fiscal responsibility, arguing that neither party alone can solve the nation's debt and deficit problems. He criticized both President Biden and former President Trump for promising not to touch Social Security or Medicare during their campaigns, calling such pledges a guarantee of failure. «The last time we made much-needed reform to Social Security in 1983, it took Democratic Speaker Tip O'Neill and Republican President Ronald Reagan to get it done,» Johnson said. «If we do not start thinking about avoiding fiscal calamity as a bipartisan problem, we will fail.»
Johnson's congressional career is drawing to a close after he placed third in the 2026 South Dakota GOP gubernatorial primary, losing to real estate executive Toby Doeden and incumbent Gov. Larry Rhoden. He acknowledged that his experience in Washington, once considered an asset in a bid for higher office, has become a liability in an era of widespread anti-establishment sentiment. «People are fed up with Washington, D.C.,» he said, noting that 13 of his House colleagues have similarly lost races for governor or Senate seats. Despite the setback, Johnson expressed optimism about his future, pledging to continue working in business or the nonprofit sector. «I'm surely not ready to retire,» he said. «I'm 50, but I feel like a real young 50, and I'm still filled with plenty of piss and vinegar. Let's go get it done.»
The congressman's warnings about China come at a time when U.S.-China relations remain tense, with disputes over trade, technology, and regional security. Johnson's call for a more focused and unified national strategy reflects a broader concern among some policymakers that the United States is not adequately preparing for long-term competition with Beijing. His emphasis on bipartisanship as a necessary condition for tackling fiscal challenges also resonates with centrist voices who argue that the country's most pressing problems cannot be solved by one party alone.