While a government shutdown may have been averted for at least 45 days, infighting within the Republican party isn’t over yet, as Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) says he wants to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
Gaetz shared his intentions while speaking with CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday, the day after McCarthy had to rely on Democratic votes to pass a stopgap funding bill to stop the government from shutting down.
McCarthy was forced to go across the aisle for votes after 12 hardline Republicans decided not to support the measure. With the GOP’s slim margin in the house, the Speaker could only afford to lose four votes.
Now that he’s gone across the aisle, the group of hardline Republicans say he’s going to lose his job.
“I do intend to file a motion to vacate against Speaker McCarthy this week. I think we need to rip off the Band-Aid. I think we need to move on with new leadership that can be trustworthy,” Gaetz said.
Gaetz continued, saying, “One thing everybody has in common is that nobody trusts Kevin McCarthy.”
“He lied to Biden. He lied to House conservatives. He had appropriators marking to a different number altogether,” Gaetz said. “And the reason we were backed up against the shutdown politics is not a bug of the system. It’s a feature.”
McCarthy responded to the comments from Gaetz on Sunday, telling his colleague to “bring it on” while speaking on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”
“That’s nothing new,” McCarthy said. “I’ll survive. You know this is personal with Matt. Matt voted against the most conservative ability to protect our border. Secure our border. He’s more interested in securing TV interviews than doing something.”
The Speaker continued, saying it’s time to “get over with it” and “start governing.”
Still, if McCarthy is able to keep his seat, and it comes with the help of Democrats, then Gaetz said he’ll “be their speaker, not mine.”