House Speaker Kevin McCarthy made an urgent phone call to Mar-a-Lago Tuesday after he expressed doubt about whether former President Donald Trump is the best Republican candidate for president.
On national television.
McCarthy's musings came during his morning appearance on CNBC's “Squawk Box” after being asked if Trump could win next year's election.
“Can he win that election? Yeah, he can,” the California Republican responded. “The question is, is he the strongest to win the election? I don't know that answer.”
The 45th president didn't take kindly to the apparent skepticism, as Mediaite notes:
“We're told top aides to the former president and allies who know both men quickly traded messages asking, in short: What the f—? Some called McCarthy a ‘moron,' we're told. Others looked to Trump campaign hand BRIAN JACK, who also advises the speaker and has been a critical bridge between both men, to play mediator as Trump hit the trail in New Hampshire,” Politico reported.
Reporter Lauren Fox called Tuesday “a day of cleanup” for McCarthy, who told Breitbart hours later that Trump is “stronger today than he was in 2016.” The McCarthy campaign then sent out a fundraising email echoing those remarks.
According to Fox, the flip-flop underscores how McCarthy's speakership is beholden to the right flank of the House Republican Conference. Many of its members take personal umbrage at any criticism of the former president.
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Trump isn’t the best candidate. We lose with trump. Again.
No, we WIN with Trump. AGAIN
I didn’t want McCarthy as Speaker, but then he seemed to be doing OK. Now, his true colors have been shown to all!!