Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy praised all but one of President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks.
On Wednesday, President Trump nominated Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida to be attorney general in the next administration. In contrast, his longtime rival and ousted House Speaker McCarthy dismissed the nomination, arguing that it was politically unreasonable.
Gaetz and McCarthy had a long-standing feud even before their nomination.
“I think the options are very good, except for one,'' McCarthy said. said In an interview on Wednesday. “Look, Gates won't be certified. Everyone knows that.”
“If you ask the president, Mr. Gaetz could not win the Republican conference,” McCarthy continued. “So it doesn't matter.”
Gates is a longtime Trump supporter and extremely popular among the MAGA base. That said, Gates' popularity may not be reflected in Washington, D.C., ahead of Senate confirmation.
Republicans are on track to win a 53-seat majority in January, but Gaetz is certain to mount a challenge. Several senators have already expressed hesitation About President Trump's cabinet appointments and some of them skeptical Mr. Gaetz will receive enough votes to be confirmed.
If confirmed after President Trump takes office, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance would be able to vote in the confirmation process, but Gaetz would only lose three votes.
Gaetz's office did not respond to Blaze News' request for comment.
Gaetz and McCarthy had a long-standing feud even before their nomination. The feud culminated in October 2023, when Gaetz filed a motion to vacate the chairmanship, making McCarthy the first chairman to be removed. Gaetz is joined by Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ken Buck of Colorado, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Eli Crane of Arizona, Bob Good of Virginia, and Bob Good of South Carolina. Nancy Mace and Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale of Montana participated.
Mr. McCarthy resigned after being removed from the chairmanship.
McCarthy and his allies led a failed multimillion-dollar revenge campaign and helped field primary challengers against the agitators, including Gaetz. Gates is the one to watch overwhelmingly He defeated Aaron Dimock in the Republican primary with 72.6% of votes, but McCarthy supported only 27.4% of his challengers.
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