FLASHBACK: Matt Gaetz Warned Against Removing Paul Ryan As Speaker Because It Would Hurt GOP

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) warned against ousting then-House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) in 2018, saying that doing so would fracture and weaken the Republican Party.

The clip of Gaetz’s past remarks gained traction online after he filed a motion this week to remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from the speakership in what many Republicans say is a personal vendetta against McCarthy.

“Here’s the problem: If we take Paul Ryan off the field right now, instead of being able to finish strong in 115th Congress, we will shatter into a bunch of factions fighting against each other for power,” Gaetz said. “We’ve got enough of that in Washington already. Paul Ryan can be a caretaker of the speakership. We can have a leadership election. We could go into the midterms strong. And I don’t think they’re pushing him out early if he doesn’t want to go, is in any way advantageous.”

Fox’s Lisa Kennedy Montgomery rejected Gaetz’s remarks, saying that if Ryan did such a great job the Republican Conference would not be divided.

“I don’t believe that the Houses lacks unity,” Gaetz said. “I think it’s the Senate that’s been the problem. We’ve passed funding for the wall, we’ve passed a removal of sanctuary cities, we’ve passed a repeal of Obamacare.”

“The Senate can’t do anything,” he continued. “And so I don’t think that it’s Paul Ryan’s fault that we’ve had a less than productive 115th Congress. I think it’s Mitch McConnell’s fault.”

WATCH:

Gaetz in 2018:
"If we talk Paul Ryan off the field right now, instead of being able to finish strong, we will shatter into a bunch of factions fighting against each other for power." pic.twitter.com/1yOxe3GhML

— Caleb Smith (@CalebJSmith) October 3, 2023