Republican leader Kevin McCarthy told Trump to wait until after the midterms to announce whether he’s running so the GOP can focus on regaining the majority
- Trump repeatedly name-checked McCarthy during his speech in DC on Tuesday
- The former president spoke of violent gangs beating “helpless victims” and speaking of setting up quality tents outside of cities for the homeless population
- Trump has repeatedly hinted at a run in 2024
- But some in GOP feel it hurts their chances in 2022 by racing for him
- “Let’s win 22,” McCarthy told Trump
- Comes after Biden targeted “ultra maga” and violently slammed Trump this week for Jan. 6
- Republicans are hoping to retake the House and have a shot at the Senate
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is urging former President Donald Trump to delay announcing a 2024 presidential campaign amid some GOP fears that such a move could nationalize the election outside of the year.
McCarthy hopes to become Speaker of the House next year when Republicans take the majority in an election where historical trends strongly favor the GOP, which has featured a string of Democratic resignations.
“My point to him was always, ‘Let’s win 22,'” McCarthy said Tuesday as Trump made his first appearance in Washington since leaving office after skipping President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Republican leaders want November’s election to be about President Joe Biden and inflation — not Trump and his ongoing allegations of voter fraud.
Former President Donald Trump continues to hint at a run for the White House in 2024. House Minority Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he wanted him to back down
“Wait and see what happens here. Concentrate on winning 22. And if we win 22, and a lot of our policies and what we do, what we operate, (that) would be the case to see where it is,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy’s comments to reporters followed a speech in which Trump called the US a “cesspool” and highlighted illegal immigration and violent crime.
“You still have someone in the White House who can’t make it,” Trump said.
“I think help will come, and I think it will be a lot sooner than people think,” he said, teasing a possible return to power.
“Wait and see what happens here. Focus on winning ’22,’ California House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Tuesday. He has urged Trump to hold off announcing a presidential candidacy as Democrats attempt to hold the election through Trump
Trump has reasons to hold back, including campaign finance and disclosure rules that come into effect once someone runs for president.
He must ponder his political future while facing multiple legal investigations. The Washington Post reported Thursday that the Justice Department is investigating Trump’s actions around Jan. 6 as part of a criminal probe, citing anonymous sources.
The January 6 Committee of the House of Representatives has announced further hearings in September that will focus on Trump’s conduct.
McCarthy has already begun to set an aggressive investigative agenda – and has committed to investigating Hunter Biden over alleged financial irregularities.
Trump repeatedly name-checked McCarthy during Tuesday’s speech, days after the Jan. 6 committee testified about McCarthy’s Jan. 6 call to Trump, where he urged the president to tell his supporters to leave the Capitol, while it was under siege.
President Joe Biden attacked Trump on Jan. 6 this week — just his latest attempt to draw attention to his rival
He once brought up McCarthy while railing against transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.
“Or the weightlifter — think it was about 218 pounds,” Trump said.
“I can’t lift it. I don’t know who can do that. One of our ex-Trump people? They are all Trump people. Kevin [is] say he could lift it. I don’t know Kevin but that’s a lot, 218 pounds,” Trump joked.
He also brought up McCarthy while railing against illegal immigration, suggesting he would soon be able to legislate.
“We need to be able to close those borders and we need to be able to send a lot of the people back. Many of these people have to be sent back. And there are many bad ones. You have to send them back. So I don’t know how Kevin is going to handle that,” Trump said.