House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has reportedly denied promising former President Donald Trump that his impeachments would be expunged.
Sources close to Trump told Politico the former president was furious with McCarthy questioning whether Trump was the "strongest to win the election," last month. McCarthy has carefully avoided backing Trump or any other candidate in the 2024 nomination contest to avoid dividing his caucus any more than he has to. Without accounting for the tenuous politics of the House, Trump has expressed frustration that one of the country's top Republicans isn't lining up behind him.
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“He needs to endorse me — today!” Trump reportedly said.
In order to calm the former president, McCarthy allegedly promised the House would vote to expunge his impeachments—and they would do so in advance of the August recess.
McCarthy denied there was a "deal" to expunge Trump's impeachments to reporters on Thursday.
"There's no deal, but I've been very clear," McCarthy said. "From long before when I voted against impeachments that they put them in for purely political purposes. I support expungement, but there's no deal out there."
.@SpeakerMcCarthy denies promising Trump he would hold a vote on expunging Trump’s impeachments, as reported by Playbook this AM, telling @ryanobles, “They did it for purely political purposes. I support expungement but there's no deal out there.” —> pic.twitter.com/qNzrPQEKD7
— Rebecca Kaplan (@RebeccaRKaplan) July 20, 2023
Representatives for McCarthy did not respond to the Washington Examiner's request for comment.
McCarthy has walked a fine line since ascending to the top spot in the House, a position he, in part, owes to Trump. After four days and 15 rounds of votes, the California Republican eventually won the speaker's gavel when Trump publicly backed him, encouraging House rebels to drop their campaign to block McCarthy.
Now, Trump appears to be ready to demand McCarthy make good on the debt the former president believes he owes him.
Last month, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) introduced a measure to expunge Trump's impeachments from Dec. 18, 2019, and Jan. 13, 2021.
McCarthy said he would "look at" considering the resolution when it was introduced, but said at the time, Republicans had other priorities to consider.
Members have expressed various concerns over a possible vote, including the possibility it doesn't pass, its ability to expose divisions within the conference, and its position to embarrass Trump.
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Trump reportedly mentions the promise on each call with McCarthy, as the former president's team's patience wears thin.
Asked recently who he was endorsing in the Republican primary race, McCarthy said he hasn't yet, but added, "I'm very high on President Trump."