JUST IN: Donald Trump Takes Credit For Kevin #McCarthy Victory As News US House Speaker—-The Immediate past President of United States could not wait but take credit for the success of Kevin McCarthy moment the die hard Rep member was finally crowned Speaker of the House following four days of voting chaos and a near-punch up in Congress.
McCarthy had earlier paid tribute to Trump for his support during the voting process while speaking to reporters.
He said: ‘He was with me from the beginning — somebody wrote the doubt of whether he was there — and he was all in. He would call me and he would call others. And he really was — I was just talking to him tonight — helping get those final votes.’
Trump responded by posting a video of McCarthy thanking the former president on his Truth Social platform and wrote: ‘Thank you Kevin. It was my great honor!’
He added: ‘The “Speaker” selection process, as crazy as it may seem, has made it all much bigger and more important than if done the more conventional way.’ He also said: ‘Congratulations to Kevin McCarthy and our GREAT Republican Party!’
The tally was 216-212 with Democrats voting for leader Hakeem Jeffries, and six Republican holdouts to McCarthy simply voting present.
McCarthy ran afoul of hardliners when he publicly acknowledged that Trump bore responsibility for the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, days after the violence. He later walked back those comments and repeatedly voiced allegiance to the former president.
The California congressman had been a long time supporter of Trump, going to back to when the former host of The Apprentice first announced his candidacy for the presidency.
During the chaos on Friday night, Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama lunged at Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and had to be held back by Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina after McCarthy was left just one vote short of victory.
Later, when discussing Gaetz, a loyal Trump follower, McCarthy told CNN: ‘At the end of the night, Matt got everybody there from the point that nobody voted against the other way, so it actually helped unite people.’
Gaetz, who voted present during the final vote that sent McCarthy over the line, earlier said: ‘We do not trust Mr. McCarthy with power, because we know who he will use it for. And we are concerned that it will not be for the American people.’
