ep. Kevin McCarthy has already come close to being the House speaker and failed — forced to bow out of a competitive race at the last minute in 2015 amid pushback from conservatives.
He has spent the years since trying to make sure nothing gets in his way the next time around — largely by courting Donald Trump in hopes that his sway over the Republican membership would scare off potential rivals and lock down the votes needed for the biggest prize in congressional politics.
But as Republicans grow more confident that they will secure control of the House in November, McCarthy’s future is suddenly in doubt, his ambitions upended by revelations that he privately insulted a man who demands unstinting loyalty.
This week, new audio recordings of McCarthy’s private conversations with fellow Republicans following the Jan. 6 attack show that he was appalled by Trump’s actions when his supporters ransacked the U.S. Capitol. In one snippet, McCarthy says, “I’ve had it with this guy. What he did is unacceptable.” He was also recorded telling
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., that he would advise Trump to resign lest he be removed from office.
It’s a fast-moving drama that until now largely played out behind closed doors. Whether McCarthy can survive the latest twists in a race he would be favored to win is not yet clear. So far, most Republican lawmakers show no sign of abandoning him.
But much depends on Trump. He has not yet issued a public statement on McCarthy or indicated that he could throw his weight behind another candidate. A spokesman for Trump said he would have no comment.
But in an interview Friday with The Wall Street Journal, Trump indicated there was no ill-will between him and McCarthy, even after the recordings surfaced.
“He made a call. I heard the call. I didn’t like the call,” Trump said, before quickly adding that McCarthy flew down to Florida to meet him just a few weeks later that January to show his support.
"The support was very strong," he added.
When asked if he still backs McCarthy for speaker if Republicans win the majority in November, Trump was less direct.
قال ترامب: "حسنًا ، لا أعرف أي شخص آخر يرشح نفسه ، وأعتقد أن لدي بالفعل علاقة جيدة جدًا معه". "أنا أحبه. وبخلاف تلك الفترة القصيرة من الوقت ، أظن أنه يحبني كثيرًا ".
قال شخص مقرب من ترامب لشبكة إن بي سي نيوز إن مكارثي اتصل بالرئيس السابق واعتذر عن تصريحاته المسربة لتشيني.
قال الشخص الذي تحدث مع ترامب حول المكالمة: "قال إنه كان يرضي ليز وكان يتشدق بها. ترامب ليس غاضبًا حقًا. إنه يفكر في أشياء أخرى. إنه يقبل كيفن لمن هو هو. ليس الأمر وكأنه يثق به حقًا ".