Fox News host Maria Bartiromo grilled Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) during a contentious interview on Sunday, saying that he was allowing his “personal vendetta” against House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) take him to the point where his opposition to a short-term spending bill to avoid a shutdown was actually helping Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) and the Democratic Party.
The clash happened on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” during a segment in which Bartiromo accused Gaetz of threatening to “blow up all of the wins” that Republicans have had so far while in the majority in the House.
“Are you not right now indirectly working with Democrats?” Bartiromo asked. “Because you are going to allow Chuck Schumer to come up with a continuing resolution next week to fund the government. That’s what your actions are doing. That’s why some people feel this is a personal vendetta you have against the speaker.”
“No, my vendetta is against a Washington system that allows corruption to put the interests of lobbyists and PACs above the interests of the American people,” Gaetz said, claiming that McCarthy “facilitates that system.”
“I’m not working with Chuck Schumer, any other Democrat, I am the one working with House conservatives to require single subject spending bills,” he added.
When Bartiromo said told Gaetz that he was “enabling” Schumer and the Democrats, Gaetz fired back: “No, no, no. You guys criticize me for forcing single subject spending bills, then you give Kevin McCarthy the credit for doing it. The reality is, this is the only way to liberate ourselves from a bad system.”
Bartiromo said that she actually agreed with some of the specific things that Gaetz wanted to do but did not agree with his methods and brinkmanship.
Gaetz said that he was effectively putting a “political gun” to McCarthy’s “head” and that he would continue to do so.
WATCH:
@RepMattGaetz to @MariaBartiromo this morning responds to criticisms he is working with Democrats:
"You guys criticize me for forcing single subject spending bills. Then you give McCarthy the credit for doing it. The reality is this is the only way to liberate ourselves" pic.twitter.com/SnL5KU732m
— SundayMorningFutures (@SundayFutures) September 24, 2023