Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reflected on his time in Congress on Tuesday and predicted Republican success in November.
When asked if he missed the chamber where he was ousted as speaker in October, the Bakersfield resident responded: “Sometimes, yes. Some people, no.
“I love every minute I’m in the office. Good days, bad days,” McCarthy said in an interview with Wall Street Journal contributing editor Gerald Baker at the Milken Institute’s annual meeting in Beverly Hills. “Sadly, now it’s even more broken.”
McCarthy continues his feud with Rep. Matt Gaetz, D-Calif., saying the Florida Republican engineered his ouster simply to thwart a House investigation into his relationship with a teenage girl.
“This is what he wanted to stop, and he was willing to risk the House for it, and the Democrats agreed. He succeeded,” he said, before adding that there were plans to oust his successor, House Speaker Mike Johnson. Trying “is different. It won’t work.”
McCarthy said there is no obvious successor. Republicans don’t want to hurt their chances of retaining control of the House, while Democrats want to avoid a government slowdown that has impacted President Joe Biden.
McCarthy predicts that Trump will win the White House in November as President Biden’s support declines, naming North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders as potential candidates. Running mate.
“I think Trump will play this role like on ‘The Apprentice.’ He’ll perform it. He’ll get you on board with the former president’s social media platform, Truth Social,” McCarthy said. “He’s going to make you follow it. No matter who you think is in the lead, there’s always going to be someone coming up from behind. It’s going to make for great television. The day he makes the announcement, you’re all going to be watching.”
