Matt Gaetz Challenges Kevin McCarthy's Leadership — Response From The House Speaker: 'Bring It On'

The position of US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is under fire, as his fellow Republican, Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), has initiated a move to unseat him.

What Happened: A Reuters report on October 2, 2023, reveals that Gaetz, who has had several disagreements with McCarthy, presented a “motion to vacate”. This action necessitates a vote on McCarthy’s removal as the speaker.

With the Republicans holding a thin majority in the house, it would only entail five defections to endanger McCarthy’s leadership, assuming all Democrats vote against him.

Frustration has been growing among Gaetz and a group of other far-right Republicans at McCarthy’s use of Democratic votes to pass a temporary budget extension to avert a partial government shutdown. A group of approximately 20 Republicans, including Gaetz, had backed McCarthy into a corner by consistently obstructing other legislation.

McCarthy has termed Gaetz’s leadership challenge as a disruption, voicing his confidence in surviving. “Bring it on,” he posted on the X platform.

There is no precedent for a US House speaker being ousted from the position, which is second in succession for the presidency after the vice president. It is still undecided whether the Democrats will vote against McCarthy or negotiate to keep him in power.

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Why It Matters: As per a Benzinga report, Gaetz had been vocal about his intentions to challenge McCarthy’s leadership following a government shutdown deal. Gaetz accuses McCarthy of repeatedly violating an agreement made with House conservatives in January.

Earlier, Gaetz had expressed his intentions to move against McCarthy if he did not comply with conservative demands related to spending and legislation. Gaetz criticized the House’s leadership under McCarthy.

Even as these threats loom, McCarthy remains unfazed. Despite the challenges, McCarthy maintained his stance, stating that he would survive and that the issue was personal with Gaetz.

Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

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