Donald Trump Takes Credit for Kevin McCarthy’s Election as Speaker of the House of Representatives

After a long and arduous process, Kevin McCarthy was elected as the Speaker of the US House of Representatives on January 7, 2023. The election was secured through a mix of ambition, deal-making, and a proven track record of getting Republicans what they need. It was a spectacle unseen in the US Capitol since 1859, as McCarthy had to endure 15 rounds of voting before he was elected.

Donald Trump had previously urged House Republicans to stand behind McCarthy or risk having a far worse speaker. After McCarthy’s humiliating vote, Trump said, “let’s see what happens”. On Saturday, Trump took credit for “greatly help[ing] McCarthy attain the position of Speaker of the House” and even claimed the “fake news” was “very gracious” in reporting his crucial help.

McCarthy is a California Republican and has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2007. He has served as the House Majority Leader since 2014 and was the House Minority Leader from 2019 to 2021. He is the first Californian to serve as Speaker of the House since Nancy Pelosi in 2011.

McCarthy has been praised for his ability to bridge divides between Republicans and Democrats. He has also been praised for his ability to get things done in a bipartisan manner. He is expected to bring a new level of bipartisanship to the House of Representatives.

The election of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House of Representatives marks a new era in US politics. With Donald Trump taking credit for helping McCarthy attain the position, it is clear that the former President still holds a great deal of influence in the Republican Party. It remains to be seen how McCarthy will use his new position to bridge divides and get things done in a bipartisan manner.