I have to give Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz credit. Win or lose, he’s a warrior that the Republican Party is lucky to have. Not to mention, what’s there not to love about a long overdue GOP shake-up especially when it makes leadership EARN their votes? Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Co. are sending a clear message to leadership… do NOT get too comfortable.
Former President Donald Trump, however, isn’t on board with that message, and wants the in-fighting to stop, now! In the 11th hour after 3 failed Speaker votes, Trump reminded the Party of his support for Kevin McCarthy and asked Republican House Members to “VOTE FOR KEVIN”.
Trump posted to Truth Social on Wednesday: “Some really good conversations took place last night, and it’s now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY, & WATCH CRAZY NANCY PELOSI FLY BACK HOME TO A VERY BROKEN CALIFORNIA, THE ONLY SPEAKER IN U.S. HISTORY TO HAVE LOST THE “HOUSE” TWICE! REPUBLICANS, DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT. IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT. Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB – JUST WATCH!”
Unfortunately for Trump, Gaetz isn’t feeling the love and responded to Trump’s calls for unity by telling Fox News Digital that Trump’s endorsement of McCarthy has not changed the congressman’s view on the former president or GOP leader, nor has swayed his vote. “Sad!” Gaetz said in a Wednesday statement. “This changes neither my view of McCarthy, nor Trump, nor my vote.”
Gaetz has led the House Freedom Caucus battle against the GOP leader’s speakership bid, where he and 19 other Republican members have frozen the House in opposition to McCarthy while solidifying their support behind Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.
Jordan, however, has said that he does not want the job and endorsed McCarthy for speaker on the House floor on Tuesday, encouraging holdouts to vote for the GOP leader. Gaetz has pointed to Jordan’s hesitance to seek the job as a mark of a good leader.
The House voted to elect a speaker three times Tuesday after McCarthy repeatedly failed to secure enough support to win a majority of members present. It was the first time since 1923 that the House failed on the first vote for a speaker.
