(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., opened up on Sunday about his political future in a candid interview with CNN host Manu Raju, shedding light on the internal turmoil within the Republican Party and his considerations for re-election.
During the interview on Inside Politics, McCarthy reflected on his changed role as a rank-and-file lawmaker, stating “It is different. It is a little harder. You want to make other decisions. But unfortunately, eight Republicans worked with all Democrats to disrupt and now we’re in a different situation.”
McCarthy did not hold back in expressing his frustration with fellow Republicans who played a role in his ousting. Specifically, he took aim at Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who filed the motion to vacate against him.
“I think it is more personal,” McCarthy said of Gaetz. “If the ethics committee never does anything to Gaetz, then Gaetz was successful in stopping probably should rightfully come to him.”
The former speaker also expressed surprise at the votes of Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., in favor of his ousting.
“They seemed to have changed during a time they care a lot about press, not about policy. So they seemed to just want the press and the personality,” McCarthy claimed, referring to Mace and Burchett.
McCarthy did not shy away from criticizing his former colleagues, stating that Mace lost the right to be re-elected and asserting that the House would benefit from not having Gaetz as a lawmaker. However, he refused to say whether House Republicans should vote to oust Gaetz, claiming he was leaving it to the House GOP conference.
Even Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was not spared from McCarthy’s critique. He claimed that Pelosi had promised to support him if he faced a motion to vacate the speakership, but he felt let down by her alleged lack of backing.
On the possibility of not running for re-election in 2024, McCarthy revealed that he is still contemplating his decision.
“I got the holidays. I will talk to my family about the ideas of what is going forward, and then I will make a decision.”
