Dr. Johnson made an appearance on "Deadline: White House," where he went on to make the brazen comparison while addressing the relationship between former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party as the 2024 presidential election draws near.
Dr. Johnson, who is an associate professor of communication and journalism at HBCU Morgan State University, referred to Trump as "the bad guy" and called the Republican Party itself a "front for a terrorist movement."
GONE TOO SOON: NYPD MOURNS FALLEN OFFICER AFTER FATAL CONFRONTATION, IS BIDEN'S AMERICA TO BLAME?
"If Trump is on the ballot in 2024, it's the easiest thing in the world for Democrats because you can always run against the bad guy," Johnson announced.
"But I think the bigger, more dangerous thing, and I've been saying for a while, I'm working hard to never say 'Republican Party' again because it's not a party."
GONE TOO SOON: NYPD MOURNS FALLEN OFFICER AFTER FATAL CONFRONTATION, IS BIDEN'S AMERICA TO BLAME?
"The GOP is no longer a governing party and news outlets should stop using that term."
The author, who is a paid contributor to MSNBC, was temporarily removed from the network back in February 2020 after comparing female Black women who backed Bernie Sanders to "the Island of Misfit Black Girls."
RE-SHAPING THE FUTURE: TENNESSEE GOV. BILL LEE UNVEILS BOLD PLAN FOR "EDUCATION FREEDOM"
He was also dismissed from his position as politics editor at The Root because of the comment.
FIVE ARRESTED IN SOUTHERN TEXAS FOR TRAFFICKING OF MILITARY-GRADE WEAPONS TO CARTEL
"They have given up all pretense of being a part of the Democratic process and only exist as a vehicle to restore Trump to power through violence or malfeasance," Johnson tweeted in backing of his argument made throughout Thursday's appearance on MSNBC.
DIPLOMATIC RIFT DEEPENS: NETANYAHU CANCELS TALKS WTH BIDEN AFTER UN CALLS FOR CEASEFIRE
"They're Sinn Féin to the IRA. They're the PLO to Hamas. They are a dime storefront for a terrorist movement."
The organizations Johnson described are various infamous terrorist organizations from around the world.
The Palestinian Liberation Organization, or PLO, was designated a terror group back in 1987 after it claimed responsibility for many terror attacks against Israel, most notably the slaying of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.
GONE TOO SOON: NYPD MOURNS FALLEN OFFICER AFTER FATAL CONFRONTATION, IS BIDEN'S AMERICA TO BLAME?
Hamas is a radical militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, and the United States has listed it as a terror group for years.
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) was a republican paramilitary terrorist group that attempted to end British rule in Northern Ireland.
ELON MUSK'S LEGAL SALVO AGAINST HATE SPEECH BACKFIRES AFTER JUDGE DISMISSES LAWSUIT
Several people on social media were quick to disagree with Dr. Johnson's assessment.
"Don't be silly," someone wrote.
"When a Leftist speaks it's just Seinfeld's bizarro world. Everything 180 degrees opposite," a different user tweeted in response.
"I'd like to agree, but I in fact believe this line of thought leads directly to Democratic defeat in '22 and '24. Sorry. And I think it's obvious," someone else chimed in.
Johnson eventually returned to MSNBC in July 2020 and is still a regular political panelist.