Back in December President Donald Trump publicly backed House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s bid for speaker of the House in the next Congress.
The 76-year-old former commander-in-chief also warned that GOP lawmakers opposing the California Republican are playing a “very dangerous game.”
“Yeah, I support McCarthy,” Trump told Breitbart News during an interview from his Doral golf resort in Miami, Florida.
“Look, I think this: Kevin has worked very hard,” Trump added. “He is just — it’s been exhausting. If you think, he’s been all over. I think he deserves the shot. Hopefully, he’s going to be very strong and going to be very good and he’s going to do what everybody wants.”
Trump sounded the alarm over what he said would be a “doomsday scenario” if Republicans opposing McCarthy’s continued leadership in the House get their way, while noting that he is “friendly” with many of the lawmakers against McCarthy getting the speaker’s gavel.
He disappointed a large portion of his base with his move and yesterday when America First republicans decided to stand against McCarthy Trump made a cautious move.
He declined to say whether he is still backing Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) House speaker bid, after McCarthy, failed to win a series of speakerhip votes, throwing yet more uncertainty into a chaotic process that has fractured the Republican Party.
Here’s the tweet:
When I asked directly if he was sticking by McCarthy, who did not clinch the gavel today after three floor votes, Mr. Trump told me "we'll see what happens," and ended our conversation.
— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) January 3, 2023
This morning however Trump decided to back McCarthy again even do many of his supporters asked him not to on their social media!
Here’s his statement:
McCarthy’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s remarks.
Kevin McCarthy lost the third vote for House Speaker on Tuesday.
The winning Republican can only afford to lose four votes! He must reach 218 votes to win the Speakership.
McCarthy already lost 13… and it’s not even halfway over.
Republican ‘rebels’ have coalesced around Jim Jordan.
