(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) In a series of Sunday interviews, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., unveiled his plan to oust Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker following the passing of a contentious Biden-endorsed stopgap funding measure.
The tension escalated after McCarthy worked with House Democrats to pass the stopgap bill, effectively funding the government for the next 45-47 days. While the bill marked a victory for McCarthy, Gaetz, a staunch supporter of the MAGA wing, is now determined to remove him from the speakership.
Gaetz took to Twitter to announce his intentions. “@SpeakerMcCarthy is going to get his wish,” he said. “I’m going to file a motion to vacate against him this week. If at this time next week Kevin McCarthy is still Speaker of the House, it will be because the Democrats bailed him out. He can be their Speaker, not mine.”
.@SpeakerMcCarthy is going to get his wish. I’m going to file a motion to vacate against him this week.
If at this time next week Kevin McCarthy is still Speaker of the House, it will be because the Democrats bailed him out. He can be their Speaker, not mine. pic.twitter.com/ITlcwynY39
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) October 1, 2023
The Florida lawmaker first voiced his grievances during a Sunday interview on ABC News’ This Week. He accused McCarthy of betraying the MAGA wing of the House by working with Biden.
When asked if he was rallying Democrats to oust McCarthy, Gaetz suggested that Democrats will “bail out” the speaker.
“This is an exercise to show the American people who really governs you and how that governing occurs,” Gaetz explained. “I’m on a mission to change it where we’re evaluating these bills independently. Kevin Mccarthy is off making a secret deal on Ukraine as he’s baiting Republicans to vote for a continuing resolution that doesn’t include Ukraine.”
Gaetz continued to criticize McCarthy, asserting, “So, the one thing Democrats, Republicans, the White House, we all have in common is that Kevin McCarthy has lied to all of us. If they want to keep him, he belongs to them.”
I will file a motion to vacate against @SpeakerMcCarthy this week. pic.twitter.com/kFA7X7P2OG
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) October 1, 2023
Later in the day, Gaetz appeared on CNN for an interview with Jake Tapper. During the interview, Gaetz reiterated his stance, claiming that McCarthy had repeatedly breached an agreement made with House conservatives in January.
“I do intend to file a motion to vacate the Speaker Mccarthy this week,” the Florida firebrand added. “I think we need to rip off the band-aid. I think we need to move on with new leadership. The one thing everybody has in common is no one trusts Mccarthy. He lied to Biden, he lied to House conservatives.”
