It's a bad week to be Kevin McCarthy.
After Rep. McCarthy (R-Calif.) failed to receive the 218 votes necessary to become the next Speaker of the House on Tuesday, Republican firebrand Matt Gaetz (R- Fla.) decided to add insult to injury.
Ever the provocateur, Gaetz penned a letter to the Architect of the Capitol on Tuesday to inform him of a “squatter.”
A squatter is defined as “one that settles on property without right or title or payment of rent”
“I write to inform you that the Speaker of the House Office located in the U.S. Capitol Building is currently occupied by Rep. Kevin McCarthy,” Gaetz said in the letter.
“As of this morning, the 117th Congress adjourned sine die, and a Speaker from the 118th Congress has not been elected,” he continued. “After three undeciding votes, no member can lay claim to this office.”
Earlier this week, Capitol building officials were seen moving boxes from McCarthy's office into the Speaker's suite. (RELATED: McCarthy Moves Into Speaker's Office as Future Remains Unsure)
On Tuesday, McCarthy failed to win the Speaker's gavel after three rounds of voting.
The contest is moving to a fourth round of voting Wednesday afternoon, it's unclear if any concessions or negotiations took place between lawmakers after Congress adjourned on Tuesday.
So far some hardline Republicans, such as Rep. Gaetz, have indicated their stance on McCarthy has not wavered and are expected to continue voting against the California Republican – not even with a push from Donald Trump.
Tuesday evening the former president weighed in on the fight and urged lawmakers to support McCarthy's nomination.
“Some really good conversations took place last night, and it's now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY, & WATCH CRAZY NANCY PELOSI FLY BACK HOME TO A VERY BROKEN CALIFORNIA,THE ONLY SPEAKER IN U.S. HISTORY TO HAVE LOST THE ‘HOUSE' TWICE! REPUBLICANS, DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT. IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT,” the 2024 presidential candidate continued.
“Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB – JUST WATCH!” Trump predicted.
However, not even Trump could sway the Florida Congressman.
“Sad!” Gaetz said in a Wednesday statement to Fox News. “This changes neither my view of McCarthy, nor Trump, nor my vote.”
Nearly 20 Republican lawmakers voted for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) throughout the contests after he was nominated in the first round of voting by Gaetz. However, Jordan has yet to break his silence on the shocking nomination. There is no historical precedent for a nominee for Speaker to withdraw from consideration.
Will McCarthy be forced to move out of his new office within the same week? Ouch!
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