Matt Gaetz Endorses Mortal Enemy Kevin McCarthy for RNC Chair: ‘Kevin Would Be Terrific’
LEFT: Matt Gaetz (Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images) RIGHT: Kevin McCarthy (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), the right-wing firebrand who led the coup against former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy last fall, endorsed McCarthy for the position of Republican National Committee chairman in a backhanded statement on X Tuesday.
After reports that the embattled current chair Ronna McDaniel — who has presided over a string of electoral disappointments and the financial mismanagement of the organization in the run-up to the 2024 election — may soon leave her post bubbled up to the surface on Tuesday night, rumors quickly began to circulate that McCarthy could be a candidate to replace her.
To the surprise of all, Gaetz quickly expressed his support for the idea.
“I fully endorse Kevin McCarthy for RNC Chair. Kevin is well organized and a very high-revenue fundraiser. He will also be well-liked by the RNC Committee,” argued Gaetz. “The RNC Chair doesn’t make any policy decisions, set any agenda, or negotiate against Democrats, ever. Kevin would be terrific.”
I fully endorse Kevin McCarthy for RNC Chair. Kevin is well organized and a very high-revenue fundraiser. He will also be well-liked by the RNC Committee.
The RNC Chair doesn’t make any policy decisions, set any agenda, or negotiate against Democrats, ever.
Kevin would be… https://t.co/7EquxhIBIc
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) February 7, 2024
Gaetz’s successful rebellion against McCarthy was widely seen as the product of a personal grudge rather than the result of any ideological differences or competency concerns.
The Daily Beast reported late last month that it reviewed private communications between Gaetz and another individual that confirmed as much, with Gaetz admitting that the real reason behind the coup was a congressional ethics investigation for which he blamed McCarthy.
McCarthy has derided Gaetz as “psychotic,” and accused him of being willing to “throw his country away to try to protect himself fo what would come out as the truth.”
Gaetz has been investigated by the Department of Justice in connection with a sex trafficking case as well as by the House for having “engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use and accepted impermissible gifts under House rules, among other allegations.”
