McCarthy says Trump 'unifier' in propelling Johnson across Speaker finish line
Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) offered his congratulations to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) after being reelected to the leadership role Friday but suggested that President-elect Trump should get the credit.
"Congratulations first to Speaker Johnson. Well done," he said Saturday morning in an interview with Fox & Friends Weekend. "But I think having such a big election, real congratulations [go] to President Trump."
"I was with him last night. He made the difference here. He united a conference that is tough to keep together,” the former lawmaker added.
Johnson, who was under intense pressure following a tense budget fight, clinched the Speakership once again in a stunning floor vote Friday, securing the gavel on the first ballot.
GOP Reps. Ralph Norman (S.C.) and Keith Self (Texas) initially nominated alternatives for the top post but changed their vote to Johnson after negotiations. Sources later revealed to The Hill that Trump called the two holdouts before they flipped, underscoring the president-elect's influence on the House GOP conference.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) was the only Republican to withhold his support from Johnson. Massie had vowed for weeks to oppose him, instead floating House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) for the post instead. Democrats threw their support behind Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).
Trump lauded the Louisiana Republican's victory in a post on Truth Social after Johnson won.
“Mike will be a Great Speaker, and our Country will be the beneficiary," he wrote following the vote. "The People of America have waited four years for Common Sense, Strength, and Leadership. They’ll get it now, and America will be greater than ever before!”
McCarthy, who resigned from Congress in late 2023 months after being ousted as Speaker, urged Republicans to put aside their differences and look to Trump as their "unifier."
“Nobody can have a disagreement if we want to get this agenda through and the American people have spoken loud and clear, and I think President Trump is the unifier,” McCarthy told the Fox News.
“Members have got to stop focusing on themselves and look to the policy," he added.