House of Representatives Votes to Remove Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy After His “Bring it On” Tweet

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted to remove former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his position. The vote was 216 to 210, with eight Republicans voting in favor of the motion.

The vote came after Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) announced he planned to file a “motion to vacate the chair,” which is a way of trying to remove the speaker. In response, McCarthy tweeted out three words: “Bring it on.” Gaetz almost immediately responded with his own bit of tough-talking snark.

Following the vote, Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, who was appointed speaker pro tempore, told lawmakers in the meeting that a candidate forum is expected Oct. 10, and a potential vote would be Oct. 11.

McCarthy told reporters after the vote that he would not run for the leadership position again. He said, “I may have lost the vote today, but as I walk out of this chamber I feel fortunate to have served the American people.”

The vote to remove McCarthy as speaker was an unprecedented move, and it serves as a reminder to be careful what you tweet. McCarthy’s “Bring it on” message didn’t age too well, and it ultimately led to his ousting from the role.

The House of Representatives will now be looking for a new speaker, and the candidate forum is scheduled for October 10th. A potential vote for the new speaker is scheduled for October 11th.