Matt Gaetz Accuses Kevin McCarthy of Doing 'Secret Side Deal' with Joe Biden Amid Efforts To Remove Him as House Speaker
Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, a hardline right-wing Republican, has triggered a vote to oust fellow Republican and current House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, accusing him of doing a "secret side deal" with President Joe Biden to avert a disastrous government shutdown.
"It is becoming increasingly clear who the speaker of the House already works for and it's not the Republican conference," Gaetz claimed in a speech on the House floor on Monday. To prevent a government shutdown that would have furloughed thousands of government workers, McCarthy had to rely on Democrats to help him out, and Gaetz was not happy about it.
"To extend Joe Biden's spending and Joe Biden's policy priorities, the Speaker of the House gave away to Joe Biden the money for Ukraine that Joe Biden wanted," said the Florida politician in his House floor speech. "It is going to be difficult for my Republican friends to keep calling President Biden feeble, while he continues to take Speaker McCarthy's lunch money in every negotiation."
According to CBS News, Gaetz is one of the biggest opponents of the US' provision of more aid to Ukraine. The speech was in reference to President Biden telling reporters that McCarthy made a "commitment to secure the passage and support needed to help Ukraine."
Before the shutdown was averted, Gaetz warned McCarthy that reaching across the aisle to Democrats for a spending bill would result in him introducing a motion to vacate, and now, the Florida representative has made good on his promise.
READ MORE: US Government Shutdown Prevented as Joe Biden Signs Funding Bill; Americans React
Vote To Oust Kevin McCarthy as Speaker Must Happen This Week
With Matt Gaetz triggering the vote to oust Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House, the rest of the House must now vote within this week if the California Republican should keep his job. They only have until Wednesday to do so.
According to NBC News, Gaetz was beaming when he spoke to reporters regarding the vote. "I have enough Republicans where, at this point next week, one of two things will happen: Kevin McCarthy won't be the speaker of the house, or he'll be the speaker of the House working at the pleasure of the Democrats," said the Florida Representative. "I'm at peace with either result because the American people deserve to know who governs them."
Kevin McCarthy Ready To Fight for His Job as House Speaker
McCarthy is not going down without a fight, though, as he is already preparing his allies to side with him in that crucial vote. Behind closed doors, McCarthy is already planning to take on his far-right and more MAGA opponents like Gaetz and the members of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus.
Many who voted for the stopgap bill that prevented the shutdown are expected to side with McCarthy, who seemed to have known that the far-right would act should he reach across the aisle to the Democrats to keep the government funded.
"If somebody wants to make a motion against me, bring it," he previously said. "There has to be an adult in the room. I am going to govern with what's best for this country."
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: 'Wake up, dude': GOP lawmaker has a message for Gaetz - CNN