House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Declares Donald Trump the “Strongest Political Opponent” Against President Joe Biden

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has declared Donald Trump the “strongest political opponent” against President Joe Biden on Tuesday, hours after suggesting the former president might not be the “strongest” candidate to win the 2024 presidential elections.

McCarthy initially made the comments during a CNBC interview Tuesday morning, referring to the mounting legal troubles the former president is facing. However, later in the day, McCarthy contacted the far-right, Steve Bannon-founded news site, Breitbart, to offer an exclusive interview. During the interview, McCarthy stated that Trump is “stronger today than he was in 2016” and referred to a new poll showing Trump beating Biden in a hypothetical rematch.

McCarthy’s swift change of opinion has caused some confusion among political analysts. Some have speculated that McCarthy’s comments are an attempt to appease the Republican base, who are still largely in support of Trump. Others have suggested that McCarthy is trying to distance himself from Trump, as the former president’s legal troubles continue to mount.

Regardless of McCarthy’s motivations, the House Speaker’s comments have made it clear that he believes Trump is the strongest candidate to run against Biden in the 2024 presidential elections. However, whether or not Trump will actually be the Republican nominee remains to be seen.