On Monday, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R–FL) met with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R–CA), whose bid for speaker may be in jeopardy.
After winning a majority in the midterm elections in November, Republicans are expected to restore control of the House this week. The GOP will control 222 of the chamber’s 435 seats. McCarthy will face a vote in the House on Tuesday for speaker, but he may not have the support he needs.
Gaetz, who has arguably been the most outspoken opponent of a McCarthy speakership, is a significant factor. Gaetz and a few other House Republicans have declared that they will not back him.
McCarthy has already established himself in the Capitol’s speaker’s office. Gaetz said he hasn’t changed since they met on Monday. He referred to it as “a brief and fruitful talk” in a video that NBC News’ Haley Talbot uploaded on Twitter.
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The reporter questioned, “How effective was it?
Gaetz, who was surrounded by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), another vehement McCarthy opponent, retorted, “Insofar that it was brief.”
He was asked to elaborate, but he refused.
“Congressman, have you given him your support yet?” questioned CBS News’ Robert Costa.
Gaetz said, “No.”
How come not? Pressed by Costa.
The congressman claimed that he had already “extensively” articulated his position.
Gaetz was merely quoted as saying that the discussion was “short and fruitful” when Costa questioned whether he was any closer to endorsing McCarthy.
CNN’s Manu Raju remarked, “That’s a different tone than you’ve struck before. You might vote for him tomorrow?”
Gaetz responded, “I’m not.
McCarthy reportedly made a number of concessions to the holdouts, but Gaetz doesn’t seem to have changed his mind.
