In a tense Wednesday morning interview, Fox News host Brian Kilmeade grilled Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) on his choice to vote in favor of a motion to vacate on Tuesday, leading to the removal of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
“Speaker McCarthy had 96% approval rating. But that wasn’t good enough for you. Do you feel good enough about your vote?” Kilmeade asked Burchett on Fox and Friends.
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The Tennessee Republican pointed to McCarthy being “woefully lacking in leadership skills” and noted that the Republicans haven’t made considerable progress on issues such as the southern border, the national debt, or term limits.
In a heated exchange, the host asked Burchett why he would vote for the motion, along with seven other Republicans, when “the most conservative guy I know, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH),” voted against it. “Why are you smarter than Jim Jordan and 210+ Republicans? Why are you smarter?” he prompted the representative.
“I represent my district, brother. And why are you smarter than me? You are condemning me because I stand up on my own, and that’s what I do,” Burchett responded.
“I’m questioning you. You don’t like being questioned?” Kilmeade hit back.
“The line of questioning is very negative, and you know that, and I know that, and when this is all over with, and we have a new speaker, and we’re running smooth, let’s have this conversation again,” the representative said.
Kilmeade also interrogated Burchett over his choice to follow Rep. Matt Gaetz‘s (R-FL) lead on the motion to vacate.
“What do you think it’s going to do for the Republican Party and chances of holding on to leadership in the majority when it looks like you are the ringleader of a circus led by Matt Gaetz, who likes to blow things up but not offer any new ideas? Are you happy following Matt Gaetz? Is that your leader?” he prompted.
“I made my own decision. I didn’t ask Matt for his approval,” responded Burchett.
The Tennessee Republican further claimed, “America’s gonna be better off with new leadership,” to which Kilmeade asked, “And who is it?”
Burchett was prepared with names, suggesting it “could be [Majority Leader] Steve Scalise (R-LA). It could be Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY). Could be Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX) out of Texas. It could be Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) out of Tennessee.”
Kilmeade pointed out, “They all supported Kevin McCarthy” during the motion to vacate vote.
Before dismissing Burchett, the Fox News host remarked, “I’m fascinated the way you blame Kevin McCarthy that you’re $33 trillion in debt, but you’re gonna get a new leader, I’m sure he’s gonna solve anything.”
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“I don’t think he should take all the blame,” he added of McCarthy.
Gaetz’s motion to vacate was successful following a Tuesday vote in which eight Republicans, including Burchett, voted with House Democrats, 216 to 210, to remove McCarthy, who had been speaker for just nine months.
