Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds said it was up to embattled GOP leader Kevin McCarthy whether he dropped out of the race for House Speaker during an impromptu news conference Wednesday after his own name was proposed in the race.
Donalds spoke to reporters on the steps of the US Capitol after voting for himself in the second round of Wednesday’s speaker voting and in the fifth round overall.
Asked by about his reaction to Donald Trump’s endorsement of McCarthy, Donalds – a supporter of the ex-president himself – brushed off the high-profile supporter.
“President Trump has been in this position for several months. Knowing President Trump, he doesn’t change his mind,” Donalds began.
“That is all well and good, but members will decide this process. And you know, that’s not disrespect to President Trump at all. That’s just the reality of the house.”
Florida GOP Rep. Byron Donalds held an impromptu press conference on the steps of the US Capitol
It comes after Colorado GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert, another Trump ally, publicly demanded that ex-President McCarthy call and tell him to withdraw from the race when she met Donalds in one of the polls on Sunday Wednesday nominated in his place.
The House of Representatives didn’t choose a speaker in the first-round vote on Tuesday for the first time in 100 years — and then fell further into disarray when McCarthy failed multiple times on Wednesday.
It has given the GOP’s new – albeit slim – house majority a chaotic start.
A group of 19 Conservatives derailed McCarthy’s bid even though he made last-minute concessions they’d called for greenlighting a measure that would allow all five Republicans to call for a new speaker vote at any time — known as the motion on eviction.
Donalds joined their rebellion in the third round, by which time McCarthy’s critics had all rallied around GOP Rep. Jim Jordan – who has repeatedly said he doesn’t want the gavel.
Then, on Wednesday, Donalds himself was nominated by Texas Rep. Chip Roy in the first round and Boebert in the second round.
He told reporters Wednesday that he “actually” doesn’t want the post of spokesman, adding, “I’ve really never come here to try to take the lead.”
House Republicans were in disarray with a second day of sessions with no speaker
It has led to several heated moments on the floor of the house between GOP members for and against Kevin McCarthy
“I didn’t come to DC to be Speaker of the House,” Donalds said.
“But I also understand that part of my responsibility is making sure our conference gets to a point where we’re doing things in an effective and constructive way.”
However, unlike Jordan, who also said he does not want the role for which he was nominated Tuesday, Donalds voted for himself in all three rounds on Wednesday.
Republicans have faltered on the second day of their narrow majority.
The 118th Congress has not yet been sworn in due to the delay in choosing a new speaker.
GOP lawmakers could be seen having intense conversations on the floor of the house and in various hallways outside the chamber.
McCarthy’s critics have made it clear that his concessions are not enough, signaling that the struggle between the parties has taken a deeply personal turn.
Donalds originally supported McCarthy but has since called for further discussions and meetings for his party to work out a compromise.
However, he told reporters that the fight may not be over for the current House GOP leader.
“I don’t think we’ve gotten to that point,” he said when asked if McCarthy should step aside. “I think there are a lot of members in the Chamber who want to have serious conversations about how we’re going to finish this.”
“But I’m not going to speak for Kevin and that’s something he and his team need to find out.”
He suggested he hadn’t spoken to McCarthy yet but was “expecting” to speak later Wednesday.
In nominating Donalds in the first round, Roy noted the historic nature of having two black candidates for Speaker of the House. It came after Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilar nominated new Democratic Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for the gavel.
It garnered a standing ovation from both sides of the House of Representatives — but progressive Missouri Rep. Cori Bush was unmoved.
“He’s a prop,” Bush, who is also black, wrote on Twitter Wednesday afternoon.
“Although he is black, he supports a political agenda aimed at upholding and maintaining white supremacy. Having his name on it isn’t progress – it’s pathetic.”