An intra-Republican struggle to choose a successor to ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has reached a conclusion that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) claims as an unalloyed victory.
“We have a speaker [who is] more honest and more conservative,” Gaetz, the Florida Republican who orchestrated McCarthy’s removal, told reporters. “I think these are the most productive 22 days we’ve had in the House of Representatives because we were able to vanquish the lobbyist vessel formerly known as Speaker McCarthy.”
That grueling process has Gaetz, an arch-opponent of U.S. aid to Ukraine, aiming for another victory.
“A majority of Republicans are against sending more money to Ukraine in the House of Representatives,” Gaetz said, referring to the 117 Republicans who voted against a bill to provide $300 million worth of assistance.