Democratic strategist says 'Christian nationalists' are a bigger threat to US than al-Qaeda

Democratic strategist James Carville said that House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and other "Christian nationalists" are a greater threat to the U.S. than al-Qaeda.

Carville made these remarks during a panel on Bill Maher's "Overtime" segment.

"Mike Johnson and what he believes is one of the greatest threats we have today to the United States," Carville said on Friday, according to Fox News. 

"You're talking about Christian nationalists?" Maher asked in response. 

"Absolutely," Carville answered. "This is a bigger threat than al-Qaeda to this country." 

Carville went on to say that Johnson's Christian beliefs are a "fundamental threat to the United States."

Johnson was elected House speaker earlier this year after the House voted to oust Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as speaker. 

"And let me tell you something: The speaker of the House, they got probably at least two Supreme Court justices, maybe more, don't kid yourself," Carville added. "People in the press have no idea who this guy is… This is a fundamental threat to the United States. It is a fundamental thing. [They] don't believe in the Constitution."

Maher expressed a similar sentiment during his closing monologue on "Real Time," his Friday night HBO show that precedes "Overtime." He accused Johnson of "religious fanaticism" and of "rooting for the end of the world so we can get on with the Rapture."