Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy admitted Thursday that he thinks the Republican Party would benefit “tremendously” if Rep. Matt Gaetz were no longer a member of the House.
“People have to earn the right to be here,” Mr. McCarthy said in an interview with CNN. “He’ll admit to you personally, he doesn’t have a conservative bent in his philosophy. And just the nature of what he focuses on.”
The California Republican said “it’s up to the conference” on whether the House GOP should expel Mr. Gaetz.
“I don’t believe the conference will ever heal if there’s no consequences for the actions,” he said.
His comments come just over a month after Mr. Gaetz introduced a motion to vacate the speaker’s chair against Mr. McCarthy. The Florida Republican voted with seven other Republicans and all House Democrats to dethrone Mr. McCarthy.
On his podcast, “Firebrand with Matt Gaetz,” the Florida lawmaker responded to Mr. McCarthy’s comments by offering backhanded condolences.
“Mr. Speaker, thoughts and prayers as you’re going through all of your stages of grief here,” he said Thursday.
He said the idea of the Republican conference kicking him out for “doing something that was exceedingly popular seems unlikely,” adding that the decision to replace him with Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, was popular among Democrats and Republicans.
“If what Kevin McCarthy wants is to make a motion to throw me out of the Republican Conference, I guess all I can really say is bring the effing motion,” he said.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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