Matt Gaetz says Trump is WRONG to back Kevin McCarthy as speaker’s embarrassment enters day four

Conservative holdout Matt Gaetz said on Fox News that Donald Trump was “wrong” to support Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House and took a close look at the former president’s hiring practices.

Gaetz said there were almost no concessions to court him.

Gaetz, who appointed Trump spokesman during Thursday’s unsuccessful votes, said on Ingraham Angle Thursday night: “I would not bet on my vote for Kevin McCarthy under almost any circumstances.”

McCarthy, who has now failed to become Speaker of the House in 11 ballots, made a series of steep concessions to win over the 20 Republicans who voted against him Thursday night.

Rep. Matt Gaetz said there are almost no concessions to court him

“Kevin McCarthy is the lobby corps’ poster child,” the Florida Republican said of his argument.

“I am resentful at the extent to which Kevin McCarthy is using the lobbyists and special interests to dictate how policy decisions are made, how policy decisions are made and how leadership decisions are made. Kevin McCarthy has been in the lead for 14 years. And he’s sold shares of himself to special interests, to political action committees, and so I don’t think he’s an appropriate choice.’

Gaetz went on to say Trump is wrong for supporting McCarthy but will support his presidential nomination anyway.

“I think President Trump is wrong in supporting Kevin McCarthy. I will support President Trump if he runs for election in 2024, but I will not support him on this piece.

“I love President Trump. I’ve defended him a lot in Congress, but HR hasn’t always been his forte,” Gaetz said. “President Trump has brought us people like Jeff Sessions and Bill Barr and Jim Mattis and Mark Esper – people who haven’t always had an America First policy.”

“I think President Trump is wrong in supporting Kevin McCarthy. I will support President Trump if he runs for election in 2024, but I will not support him on this piece.

On Thursday, Gaetz nominated President Trump as speaker. Asked by DailyMail.com if he really thought Trump was well suited to hold the gavel, Gaetz said dryly, “Yes. That’s why I voted for him.’

When asked what he wanted after a string of no votes despite steep concessions, Gaetz told reporters on Thursday, “Either Kevin McCarthy retires from the race, or we’re running a straitjacket he can’t dodge.”

The House of Representatives will begin voting again at 12 noon on Friday after conservative holdouts had a chance to review rules McCarthy conceded overnight. They will take part in a morning discussion on Friday before the vote.

GOP leader McCarthy, who has now failed to become Speaker of the House in 11 ballots, made a series of steep concessions to win over the 20 Republicans who voted against him Thursday night

According to the roll call, it included the option for just one member to oust the speaker instead of five included in the original rules package, and it promised votes over a balanced budget, term limits and appropriation changes.

A previous concessionaire also promised there would be a vote on border legislation.

McCarthy had also agreed to allow more members of the conservative Freedom Caucus to serve on the House Rules Committee, which dictates which bills make it to House floor.

He also agreed that his lead PAC would stay out of safe primary races, allowing conservatives to challenge more moderate Republicans in red districts.