Kevin McCarthy ready for a return to the speaker’s chair

Don’t count out Rep. Kevin McCarthy just yet.

The California Republican, ousted from the job of House speaker last week by a handful of rogue conservatives, emerged quickly from his historic defeat to announce he’s not ruling out a comeback.

Mr. McCarthy no longer holds the speaker’s gavel but nevertheless called a news conference in the Capitol to demand the Biden administration take immediate action in support of Israel, which launched an offensive against Hamas after the terror organization killed hundreds of Israelis in a surprise attack Saturday. 

The House, meanwhile, remains frozen as Republicans struggle to unite around a single candidate to replace Mr. McCarthy on the speaker’s podium.

Mr. McCarthy suggested he is ready to fill the void. 

With the speaker’s chair empty and the House unable to conduct business, Mr. McCarthy wasted no time reclaiming a podium — this one in an ornate conference room next to the House chamber. 

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SEE ALSO: Kevin McCarthy says he would return as speaker if House Republicans want him back

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He told reporters in the Capitol he’d return to the top House leadership position if Republican lawmakers decide they want him.

“I’ll allow the conference to make whatever decision,” Mr. McCarthy said. “Whether I’m speaker or not, I’m a member of this body. I know what history is and I can lead in any position.”

Two candidates are running to replace Mr. McCarthy: His top deputy, Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio. 

Mr. Jordan won the coveted endorsement of former President Donald Trump, but Mr. Scalise has his own band of loyal supporters within the conference. Another group of lawmakers still back Mr. McCarthy, who was ousted by just eight Republicans, or a mere 4% of the conference. 

The divide means the House may not be able to elect a speaker quickly. A vote is tentatively planned for Wednesday. 

Mr. McCarthy said last week he wouldn’t run for speaker again but by Monday seemed to be angling for another shot at it, refusing to rule out his return if he’s nominated. 

“I’ll let the conference see who unites,” Mr. McCarthy said. 

He continued to defend his decision to put a stopgap government funding measure on the floor — a bill that the eight Republicans said triggered their move to oust him because the legislation did not include spending cuts or aggressive border security measures and only passed with Democratic support. 

Mr. McCarthy pointed out conservatives rejected an earlier measure with steep cuts and border security provisions, forcing him to bring up the temporary bill funding the government for 45 days without cuts or changes. 

“It’s not just electing somebody new,” Mr. McCarthy said. “It’s whether you want to be a conservative who will govern. That’s the question.”

Mr. McCarthy first suggested he would return to power in an interview on Hugh Hewitt’s radio show earlier Monday. “Whatever the conference wants, I will do it,” he said. “I think we need to be strong. I think we need to be united.”

Mr. McCarthy spent much of the press conference addressing the U.S. response to the attack on Israel.

He called on the Biden administration to refreeze $6 billion the U.S. released to Iran in exchange for the return of five Americans detained by Tehran, which is supporting Hamas and the attack on Israel. 

He also called for Mr. Biden to demand the extradition of the Hamas leaders holed up in luxury hotels abroad and to resupply Israel with missiles and military equipment needed to defend itself against the Hamas attack.

The U.S. should reinstate the maximum pressure campaign on Iran and restart U.S. energy production to help defeat the “evil axis,” of Iran, Russia and China, he said.

Mr. McCarthy bashed President Biden for holding a barbecue at the White House on Sunday while Israel, one of America’s greatest allies in the Middle East defended against more Hamas missile strikes.

“To the president, turn off the barbecue and speak to the American people,” Mr. McCarthy said. “Be the leader the world is looking for. Otherwise, the world will stay unsafe.”