Former California Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, made a rare return to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to offer mild praise for his successor.
McCarthy told Fox News Digital that he was in Washington on Monday night to attend the swearing-in of his former aide, incoming Rep. Vince Fong, R-Calif., who won a tight race to succeed him position.
McCarthy said he also attended a press conference commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.
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Fox News Digital made a rare appearance on Capitol Hill for a brief chat with former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (Elizabeth Elkind/Fox News Digital)
When asked by another reporter if he thought Louisiana Republican Rep. Mike Johnson was doing a “good job,” McCarthy said, “Johnson is working as hard as he can.”
Last October, eight House Republicans joined all Democrats in voting to oust McCarthy, who became the first House speaker in history to be ousted midway through a congressional term. He leaves Congress at the end of 2023.
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Speaker Mike Johnson (left) has been selected as Kevin McCarthy’s successor. (Getty Images)
Three weeks later, after days of chaos and unrest that paralyzed Congress, Johnson was elected by a unanimous vote of House Republicans.
Just last month, the Louisiana Republican survived a push from two of McCarthy’s top allies in the House, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Thomas Massie, R-Ky. Disaster.
In that case, dozens of Democrats joined Republicans in introducing Greene’s measure, a so-called withdrawal motion, which avoids a House vote on the recall itself.
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Johnson survived expulsion threats from McCarthy allies Reps. Thomas Massie (left) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (right). (Getty Images)
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McCarthy appeared to indirectly attack Johnson over the bipartisan vote during an appearance on Politico’s “Power Play” podcast last month.
“I couldn’t live with myself if I made a deal with the Democrats,” McCarthy said. “If you can’t maintain speaking in your majority, should you maintain it? No.”
Fox Digital News reached out to Johnson’s office for comment.
