House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is in hot water. In an interview with CNBC, McCarthy questioned whether Trump could win the 2024 election.
“Can he win that election? Yeah, he can win that election,” McCarthy said, referring to Trump beating Biden in a 2024 rematch. “The question is: ‘Is he the strongest to win the election?’ I don’t know that answer.”
As Vivian Ward (depicted by Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman) would say: Big Mistake.
McCarthy Owes Donald Trump
The problem with McCarthy dissing Trump on national television is that McCarthy owes a lot to the former president.
“Former President Donald Trump has catapulted the careers of many a Republican over the past eight years,” Politico reported. “None have benefited more than Kevin McCarthy. In every conceivable way, the House speaker owes his gavel to Trump.”
So, naturally, when McCarthy questioned Trump’s viability, Trump and his entire orbit were incensed. Observers were baffled, asking why in the hell would McCarthy do that? Saying Kevin, you are what the French would call les incompetents.
McCarthy recognized his mistake immediately, and shifted into apology-mode.
“[McCarthy] called Trump to apologize, according to the New York Times. [McCarthy] offered Breitbart reporter Matt Boyle an exclusive interview, during which he walked the comments back and accused the media of taking them out of context,” Politico reported.
In the interview with Boyle, McCarthy reverted back to his usual sycophancy. “Trump is stronger today than he was in 2016,” McCarthy said.
Reportedly, McCarthy’s efforts have failed to assuage Trump, who is still furious.
McCarthy Then Made It Worse
McCarthy’s efforts seemed to have made matters worse, when the speaker’s campaign allies “pushed out fundraising emails and texts claiming, ‘Trump is the STRONGEST opponent to Biden!’ – then asking for money.”
But that’s a major problem for Trump. “Fundraising off of Trump’s name without permission is a huge no-no for the former president,” Politico explained. “His team requires explicit approval for any campaign to use his name and likeness. Trump’s team asked McCarthy’s last night to take down the fundraising pitch.”
So, McCarthy is definitely in hot water with Trump – but this isn’t the first time. The two had a rift after the January 6th riot, when McCarthy suggested that Trump be censured for his contributions to the riot. The rift was temporary, however, as McCarthy helped Trump regain his prominence in the GOP, and as Trump helped McCarthy secure the gavel over the objections of an obstinate Freedom Caucus.
McCarthy Hasn’t Endorsed Donald Trump Yet
The on-air diss raised other questions about the McCarthy-Trump relationship, namely, why hasn’t McCarthy yet endorsed Trump for president?
“While it’s unclear if Trump has explicitly asked McCarthy for his support, his silence on the matter has baffled the former president and his close allies,” Politico reported.
McCarthy has explained that he is withholding his endorsement because it could cause Donald Trump to be associated with the GOP’s mainstream, which could hurt Trump’s viability as a candidate. McCarthy has also suggested that because he is currently the highest-ranking Republican in the country, so central to our government’s function, he should stay neutral in the 2024 race.
But Trump world is not convinced; Trump will inevitably demand McCarthy’s unqualified support. And if I had to guess, I’d say McCarthy will give it, because Trump tends to get what he wants, especially from acolytes like McCarthy.
Harrison Kass is the Senior Editor and opinion writer at 19FortyFive. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
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