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Boehner is in his third term as speaker, a tumultuous tenure marked by challenges from tea party-aligned newcomers as well as a need to deal with President Barack Obama within divided government. He was elected to his most recent term as speaker in January over the opposition of  25 Republicans, the most to oppose a winning candidate of their own party in a century.

The Golf Channel remark was not the first time Boehner has joked about drinking and smoking. He told Jay Leno the same thing in January 2014.

“Listen, I like to play golf,’’ Boehner told Leno, to laughter and approving applause. “I like to cut my own grass. You know, I do drink red wine. I smoke cigarettes. And I’m not giving that up to be the president of the United States.’’

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. (center) is flanked by GOP whip Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. (left) and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, as Thune speak to reporters at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Earlier Tuesday, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

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