Here’s what happened.
Speaking to conservative radio and talk show host, Wayne Allyn Root, former President Donald Trump set the record straight: he has not endorsed Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA.) for Speaker of the House.
Trump clarified that while he endorsed McCarthy in his reelection bid in California’s 20th Congressional District, he hadn’t endorsed anyone for Speaker should Republicans emerge with the majority after the midterms.
When Root mentioned Trump’s endorsement of McCarthy for Speaker, Trump stated, “No, I haven’t,” adding that “I endorsed him in his race. But I haven’t endorsed anybody for Speaker.”
The confusion is understandable as Trump endorsed McCarthy earlier in the month for his reelection bid, calling the California Republican “strong and fearless” and stating that McCarthy is an “outstanding representative for the people of California.”
Trump’s statements about the leading candidate to hold the Speaker’s gavel come two months after The New York Times reported that McCarthy — in a call with GOP leadership on January 10 — said he would request Trump step down from office.
At first, McCarthy denied the reports calling them “totally false and wrong,” but later, the recording of the call was leaked, and McCarthy is heard saying, “I think this will pass, and it would be my recommendation you should resign.”
Since the recording leak, McCarthy has asserted he and Trump had a “good conversation” about it.
But the comments Trump — who has shown an unwillingness to forgive those who were unfaithful to him in the wake of Jan. 6, 2021 — made could point to a lingering grievance he has with McCarthy.
