Several Republicans came to the speaker’s defense Monday night, with one calling Gaetz „a petulant child.“
Uncertainty clouds the future of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy after Florida Representative Matt Gaetz moved to oust the Republican leader, but representatives on both sides of the aisle have further questions before voting on the speakership.
Gaetz, a far-right conservative who for weeks has threatened the push against McCarthy, on Monday filed a motion to vacate the speakership. The move comes just two days after the speaker managed to strum up a last-second bipartisan spending bill to avert a government shutdown. Republicans like Gaetz, however, have questioned the speaker’s leadership over his efforts to cooperate with Democrats.
McCarthy responded to the motion on social media Monday night, posting to his account on X, formerly Twitter, „Bring it on.“
Several lawmakers spoke up on Gaetz’s motion later on Monday, including Tennessee Republican Tim Burchett, who told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins that as it stands now, he supports removing McCarthy from his position.
„Really, I see it as two things,“ Burchett said. „One, do I vote against my friend Kevin McCarthy, or do I go with my conscience? That’s kind of where I’m at.“
„I’m currently praying about it, but if it was right now, I would vote to oust him,“ he added.
Colorado Representative Ken Buck, a fellow hardliner in the GOP, said that he would need more information before casting a vote on the speakership, but added that at the moment, he does not think that McCarthy can be „trusted“ to lead Republicans.
