Kevin McCarthy decided to make good after statements questioning whether Donald Trump would be the strongest Republican candidate against Joe Biden in 2024. While it is an important issue for potential primary voters, POLITICO reported that Trump’s entourage exploded with “fury” over the remarks. According to reports, the spokesman rectified his statement in an interview with CNBC and called the former president to express his apologies.
It all started on Tuesday, June 27, when McCarthy gave an interview to “Squawk Box” co-host Joe Kernen, who asked him about the mogul’s electoral chances. “Can he win that election? Yeah, he can. The question is: Is he the strongest to win the election? I don’t know that answer,” the Republican responded, adding fuel to the former president’s campaign fire.
Indeed, the aforementioned media outlet remarked that Trump’s inner circle felt betrayed by these statements, given the support the now Speaker of the House received in his quest for the gavel. “They don’t understand how he could ‘misspeak’ — as McCarthy, we’re told, put it to Trump — on something so critical,” they noted.
Kevin McCarthy is currently begging MAGA for forgiveness for suggesting Trump might not be the "strongest" candidate. They are absolutely furious and he is doing everything he can to bury this clip. You know what to do. pic.twitter.com/UdOxtutc5j
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) June 27, 2023
The Californian quickly jumped into action to apologize. According to The New York Times, McCarthy called the former president to apologize, which he reinforced with a brief interview with Breitbart, where he assured that “Trump is stronger today than he was in 2016.”
In addition, the Speaker’s campaign allies began disseminating a series of messages and emails to potential donors claiming that the mogul is the best choice Republicans have against President Biden.
Trump was instrumental in McCarthy getting the Speaker’s gavel after 15 votes, even going so far as to talk on the phone with lawmakers in the House to convince them. The Republican has not yet officially endorsed any candidate for the primaries, although he did not rule out that he might do so.
Although the former president has yet to comment on the matter, The Hill remarked that he was “pleased” with McCarthy’s rectification to Breitbart, suggesting that “reports of severe tensions were exaggerated.”
