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Audio Clip Reveals Kevin McCarthy Said Trump Should Resign
Representative Kevin McCarthy (CA) is under fire for an audio clip made last year. In the recording, he said that then-President Donald Trump should resign over the January 6 Capitol riots. Earlier, McCarthy denied ever uttering the words.
RELATED: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy Won’t Cooperate With January 6 Panel
McCarthy Said Trump Should Resign
An audio recording of a conversation between McCarthy and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) was made after the January 6 riots. The controversial audio recording happened days after thousands of Americans stormed the US Capitol.
The subsequent riots delayed the certification of President Joe Biden. There, the Republican House Minority Leader told Cheney that Trump should resign over the Capitol riots.
Earlier, McCarthy denied he ever said those words about Trump. Meanwhile, Republican Party leadership removed Cheney from her position as Republican Party national conference chair.
The audio clip also recorded McCarthy telling Cheney about his plans to call Trump. He said he will discuss a mechanism for invoking the 25th amendment.
This move reportedly allows then-Vice President Mike Pence and other Cabinet officials to remove Trump from office. “The only discussion I would have with him is that I think this will pass,” McCarthy said.
“It would be my recommendation you should resign,” he added. In another audio clip, McCarthy told party mates that Trump admitted bearing some responsibility for January 6.
McCarthy’s Bid for House Speakership Potentially In Trouble
McCarthy’s comment that Trump should resign can be a potential powder keg for the California congressman’s career. The Minority leader is openly targeting the House Speakership.
With Democrats’ approval ratings down the tubes, the GOP will likely retake the House and Senate during this year’s elections.
The representative’s office did not respond to requests for comment. The office of former President Trump has also yet to comment on the matter.
However, the Washington Post said that the expected fallout on McCarthy’s career is an overstatement. The media outlet reported that McCarthy already talked with Trump over the phone about the recording.
In fact, Trump was not even upset about McCarthy’s remarks. If Trump doesn’t have a problem with the audio recording, then his supporters should also have no problem moving on.
Democrats Pounce On McCarthy Audio Saying Trump Should Resign
Democrats didn’t waste any time pouncing on what they saw as infighting in the Republican party. President Joe Biden himself waded into the scene, saying that the Republicans were “a MAGA party now”.
He was referring to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan. Biden insisted that Republicans opposing Trump in private won’t do anything in public.
In addition, McCarthy also faced brickbats from fellow party mates. Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), one of the few GOP members who are openly critical of Trump, fired at McCarthy over Twitter.
“Question for Kevin McCarthy … how can you honestly feel ok with the lies? Yes, other people lie too, but you have claimed to fight for a higher purpose. Honestly Kevin, is it worth it?”
McCarthy’s Fate Depends on Trump
Ultimately, McCarthy’s future in the party might as well rest on Trump’s magnanimity. A year after he left office, Trump remains the Republican Party’s most popular figure.
Calls for the former president to run again remain high among supporters. McCarthy, despite his recorded remarks, ultimately recanted by visiting Trump in his Mar-a-Lago resort home in Florida.
There, he talked with the former President and even posed for a photograph. Reportedly, Trump was glad that McCarthy did not push through with his plan to recommend he resign.
Watch the ABC News video reporting that an audio recording reveals GOP leader Kevin McCarthy planned to urge Trump to resign:
Loading ...What do you think of Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s audio recording? Will this come back to haunt the California representative’s plan for House Speakership? Also, do you agree with Trump’s move to forgive McCarthy and move on?
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