Former President Donald Trump, who hasn't taken a side on the potential ousting of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as House Speaker, berated Republicans in a Truth Social post Tuesday, urging the party to instead focus on fighting Democrats.
Trump has yet to take any sides on the Republican infighting behind McCarthy's removal vote. (Photo ... [+]
Trump asked why Republicans are always fighting among themselves in the post and why they aren’t fighting “the Radical Left Democrats who are destroying our Country.”
Trump has not taken a hardline stance on the vote against McCarthy, which Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) filed a motion for late Monday, provoking a post from McCarthy on X, formerly known as X, saying, “Bring it on.”
The former president told reporters in Iowa this weekend that he liked both Gaetz and McCarthy “very much,” marking another show of support from Trump, who endorsed McCarthy (who he memorably once referred to as “my Kevin”) in the January speaker election and took credit for the victory.
McCarthy has been the target of the far-right Republican Freedom Caucus almost since the moment he finally won the speakership after an unprecedented deadlock. After the Freedom Caucus forced the threat of a government shutdown, McCarthy brokered a bipartisan stopgap deal on Saturday to keep government funding going for another 45 days—and Gaetz then announced the effort to remove McCarthy. Gaetz has enough support under the GOP’s majority in the House if all Democrats vote for McCarthy’s removal. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said in a letter Tuesday that Democratic leadership will vote to oust McCarthy, adding it is the responsibility of House Republicans to end the “House Republican Civil War.”
McCarthy would be the first speaker in history to be removed from his post if the vote goes through.
A vote to remove McCarthy would trigger another speaker election and put legislative business on hold until the House agrees on a new leader. However, it’s not clear that divided Republicans will be able to reach consensus on a candidate quickly, as the last speaker election in January resulted in a lengthy deadlock. GOP Whip Tom Emmer’s has reportedly been floated as an alternative to McCarthy, according to the Washington Post.
House Will Vote On Ousting McCarthy As Speaker This Afternoon—As Dems Unite Against Him (Forbes)
Democratic House Leader Says Party Won’t Rescue McCarthy In Ouster Vote (Forbes)