House Speaker Kevin McCarthy publicly slammed Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Sunday, saying his path to political prominence was paved by former President Donald Trump.
“I served with Ron DeSantis [in Congress]. He is not on the same level as President Trump in any way shape or form,” McCarthy (R-Calif.) told Fox News “Sunday Morning Futures” host Maria Bartiromo. “He will not be elected [governor] without the support of President Trump.”
Trump himself has used a similar line of attack in the ongoing Republican primary — arguing that DeSantis was not properly thanked for Trump’s support in the Sunshine State’s 2018 GOP gubernatorial primary.
McCarthy has yet to make an official endorsement in the 2024 Republican contest.
“I think he’s going to be the nominee,” McCarthy added of Trump, 77. “The thing is, President Trump is stronger today than he was in 2016 or 2020, and there’s a reason why. They look at the policy of what he can do with America — putting America first, making our economy stronger.”
Congress has eight legislative days and 13 calendar days including Monday to avoid a shutdown.REUTERS
Kevin McCarthy and Ron DeSantis have largely refrained from running afoul of each other, though the governor has made it clear where his sympathies lie. AP
McCarthy’s swipe at DeSantis followed reports that the Florida governor had privately backed Republicans in the conference’s internal squabble over government funding ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline to avoid a partial shutdown.
Last week, DeSantis had a call with Freedom Caucus Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Bob Good (R-Va.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and urged them to “keep fighting,” Politico reported.
“They campaigned on certain things, our voters gave them the House,” DeSantis told Fox News’ “MediaBuzz” on Sunday. “Do what you believe in, because this country is going bankrupt.”
Donald Trump and Kevin McCarthy have mostly had a cordial relationship with some notable problems along the way.AP
ICYMI: DeSantis is pushing the House GOP to hold tight on spending
“They’re campaigning on certain things, our voters gave them the House…so just do what you say you’re going to do!”
“Do what you believe in, because this country is going bankrupt” pic.twitter.com/FYp0FAKc4H
— John Hasson (@SonofHas) September 17, 2023
Kevin McCarthy is in a bind as the GOP reaches a deal with Democrats on May’s top funding numbers.REUTERS
But the speaker’s right wing wants him to cut funding even more, putting Republicans on another collision course with Democrats. Sunday Morning Futures/Fox News
When Bartiromo asked about DeSantis negotiating with detainers, McCarthy warned that a shutdown “will only embolden Democrats.”
“It will give power to Biden. It will not pay our army. It will not pay our border agents,” he said.
McCarthy has supported a continuing resolution to buy additional time to craft and pass the necessary appropriations bills. Such a measure, known in Capitol Hill parlance as a CR, would almost certainly need the support of House Democrats to overcome GOP opposition.
While in Congress, DeSantis was a founding member of the conservative Freedom Caucus, a constant source of headaches for GOP congressional leaders.
Currently, the House has 221 Republicans and 212 Democrats, meaning McCarthy can afford to lose just four GOP votes and still pass legislation along party lines.
Ron DeSantis has been scrambling to gain more ground in early states to reduce Donald Trump’s national dominance. AFP via Getty Images
In January, when McCarthy was 15 votes short of the speakership, Trump helped save her and called for abstention on her behalf.
Then, in June, McCarthy invaded Trump’s world.
“Okay [Trump] win the election? Yes, he can win the election,” he told CNBC of the Trump-Biden rematch in 2024. “The question is: ‘Is he the strongest to win the election?’ I don’t know the answer.”
The speaker quickly went into purge mode, accusing the media of taking his remarks out of context.
“Trump is stronger today than he was in 2016,” McCarthy later told Breitbart.
Donald Trump is the clear 2024 GOP front-runner.AFP via Getty Images
Trump has gathered more than six dozen endorsements from members of the House of Representatives and 11 from US senators. He also has a 43.9 percentage point lead over his nearest challenger, DeSantis, in the RealClearPolitics polling average.
The DeSantis campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
