Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) suggested to reporters on Monday that he plans to continually file motions to remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from the speakership until he is successful.
Gaetz made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C., after he received criticism over the weekend from those who allege that his desire to oust McCarthy stems from personal vendetta he has against McCarthy.
Gaetz acknowledged that McCarthy was “probably right” in saying that Gaetz will not be successful in getting him removed from the speakership.
“If you lose this vote, will you continue to do this?” a reporter asked Gaetz. “And are you worried about throwing this institution into chaos, paralyzing an institution that your party runs?
Gaetz responded that the way the Congress is governing as a “uni-party” is what is throwing everything into chaos, referencing a battle over government funding.
“I’m not running for speaker,” he said. “I understand that it might not be someone who agrees with me on every position. But it is awkward to talk about names until we understand how Mr. Scalise comes out of his treatment for blood cancer. I am not the type of person that just says, you blow by somebody because they’re getting a medical treatment.”
When pressed on when he was going to file the motion, Gaetz said that he is doing it this week and that he did not do it this morning because a lot of members were not present.
Gaetz was then asked if his motion fails if he would refile it again and how often he would continue to do so.
“Yeah,” Gaetz said. “Like I’ve said, it took speaker McCarthy 15 votes to become the speaker. So until I get to 14 or 15 I don’t think I’m being any more dilatory than he was.”
When asked if he’s talked to Trump about this and what Trump’s advice was, Gaetz responded: “I think I’m going to keep that between the two of us.”
WATCH:
Reporter: If this does fail will you bring it up again?
Gaetz: Yeah.
Reporter: How often?
Gaetz: It took Mccarthy 15 votes to become the speaker, so until I get to 14 or 15, I don't think I'm being any more dilatory than he was. pic.twitter.com/FTXKocyUrn
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 2, 2023