House Speaker Mike Johnson raised concerns about students being "indoctrinated" to see America through "wrong lenses" during a keynote speech at the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) Summit 2026 in San Diego on July 9. The event marked the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding and brought together leaders from law, public policy, media, business, education, and Christian organizations.

Johnson emphasized the challenge that younger generations do not fully appreciate or understand the nation's founding principles. He highlighted the Declaration of Independence as the nation's "birth certificate" and stressed the importance of reclaiming the spirit of 1776.

"What ADF does every day on the front lines is defend the very foundations of the greatest nation in the history of the world, so that it can continue," Johnson said.

Kristen Waggoner, president, CEO, and chief counsel of ADF, expressed honor in welcoming Johnson as a keynote speaker. The summit celebrated the historic 250th anniversary by exploring the founders' roles and the enduring truths they held self-evident.

Fox News Digital has reported on polling that shows Americans’ declining trust in higher educational institutions. A report by the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) revealed that liberal faculty members outnumber conservatives nearly 7-to-1 nationwide, a significant shift from 1969 when the ratio was less than 2-to-1.

Johnson's remarks on America’s spiritual heritage were described as the ideal capstone to the week-long summit celebrating the nation's founding.

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