Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) made a notable statement about former President Donald Trump during an interview at the New York Times’s Dealbook Summit. Responding to a question about Trump’s potential return to the White House, McCarthy remarked, “I didn’t say he’d be a great president. He’ll be a better president.” He emphasized that if Trump’s campaign focused on renewing, rebuilding, and restoring, he would win, but if it centered on revenge, he would lose.
McCarthy played a pivotal role in rehabilitating Trump’s standing within the GOP after the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. Despite their complex relationship, McCarthy stated that he would vote for Trump if he ran in 2024, noting, “America would be stronger.”
McCarthy says he did not expect Trump to support him when he faced an ouster, and says he currently has an “interesting” relationship with the former president. He repeats that he would vote for Trump in the next election. “America would be stronger.”
During the event, McCarthy discussed his uncertain future in politics, expressing uncertainty about running for reelection and mentioning that he would take the time to decide. Additionally, he touched on the likely expulsion of Rep. George Santos (R-NY) from Congress, recalling a fundraiser for Santos during the last election cycle where he sensed something was off and decided not to fund the race, stating, “something’s going to come out on this guy.”
