Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy credited President-elect Donald Trump for convincing two House Republicans to switch their vote to Speaker Mike Johnson, helping him win reelection.
McCarthy said that while Johnson should be congratulated, the “real congratulations” should go to Trump for his efforts in coalescing all but one House Republican to vote for Johnson.
“Congratulations first to Speaker Johnson. Well done,” he said Saturday morning in an interview with Fox & Friends Weekend. “But I think having such a big election, real congratulations [go] to President Trump.”
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“I was with him last night. He made the difference here. He united a conference that is tough to keep together,” the former lawmaker added.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) reportedly called Trump and then connected him with Reps. Keith Self (R-TX) and Ralph Norman (R-SC), who declined to vote for Johnson before later changing their votes after speaking with Trump. Self said they had a “lively discussion.”
McCarthy credited Trump for his ability to be a “unifier.”
“Nobody can have a disagreement if we want to get this agenda through and the American people have spoken loud and clear, and I think President Trump is the unifier,” McCarthy told Fox News.
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McCarthy infamously lost control of House Republicans when former Rep. Matt Gaetz ousted him as Speaker in 2023. It took the California Republican 15 rounds to secure his own speakership, with six Republicans, including Gaetz, declining to vote for him on the last ballot.
A Washington Post report said Trump failed to back McCarthy during the ousting because the latter didn’t endorse Trump for his 2024 presidential campaign and failed to expunge his two impeachments.
McCarthy claimed to have told Trump “f*** you” in their conversation then. His spokesperson denied the allegation.
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Trump congratulated Johnson after his victory.
“Mike will be a Great Speaker, and our Country will be the beneficiary,” he wrote following the vote. “The People of America have waited four years for Common Sense, Strength, and Leadership. They’ll get it now, and America will be greater than ever before!”
