Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has signaled his displeasure at former President Donald Trump’s decision to endorse Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for the role of House speaker.
Gaetz, who rose to prominence under Trump’s wing, told Fox News Digital that the former president’s endorsement of McCarthy for speaker is “sad.” Gaetz, however, maintained that Trump’s endorsement will not change his view of McCarthy and Trump, nor would it change his vote.
“Supporting McCarthy is the worst Human Resources decision President Trump has ever made,” Gaetz said in a tweet reiterating his opinion of Trump’s decision.
Supporting McCarthy is the worst Human Resources decision President Trump has ever made.
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) January 4, 2023
Gaetz was responding to Trump’s Truth social media post where he called on Gaetz and his team of rebelling House Republicans to get behind McCarthy’s bid. Trump urged Republicans not to turn their victory in taking back control of the House into a “giant and embarrassing defeat.” Eventually, McCarthy did win the speakership
'IS THIS A GAME SHOW?': @seanhannity spars with Rep. Lauren Boebert over House speaker chaos as she defends her refusal to back Kevin McCarthy. https://t.co/C9Mvuxfb2s pic.twitter.com/hrpELKCkbi
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 5, 2023
“It’s now time for all of our great Republican House Members to vote for Kevin,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a great job.”
Lauren Boebert: "I am not going to support Kevin McCarthy."
Hannity: "You will not abide by what you told President Trump you'd abide by?"
Boebert: "I love President Trump. You're not turn me on him. You’re not going to pit him against me. I love you. I love President Trump." pic.twitter.com/b0VA42JEP1
— Becker News (@NewsBecker) January 5, 2023
Gaetz’s team of rebels had seen McCarthy lose the Speaker ballot many times over two days. In a move that suggests the crisis would not end anytime soon, Gaetz wrote a letter to the Architect of the Capitol asking why McCarthy was already occupying the speaker’s office.
Gaetz sends letter to Architect of the Capitol asking why McCarthy is occupying Speaker’s office https://t.co/2WF94GZe1u
— The Hill (@thehill) January 4, 2023
Gaetz wrote in the letter that since members have elected a Speaker for the 117th Congress, “no member can lay claim to this office.”
The last time a speaker election went beyond the first ballot was in 1923, when Congress took nine ballots over three days to re-elect Frederick Gillett (R-MA).
