On Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy shared his perspective on the 2024 Republican presidential primary race, forecasting a victory for former President Trump. He contrasted Trump’s potential with that of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, stating DeSantis is “not at the same level.”
While discussing with host Maria Bartiromo, McCarthy, who had previously refrained from endorsing any candidate, expressed his belief that Trump would be the GOP’s pick for the 2024 elections. He emphasized, “President Trump is stronger today than he was in 2016 or 2020.” McCarthy attributed this strength to Trump’s policies, noting, “They saw the policies of what he was able to do with America – putting America first, making our economy stronger.” He further highlighted the absence of issues like inflation and global conflicts during Trump’s tenure, saying, “We didn’t have inflation. We didn’t have these battles around the world. We didn’t look weak around the world.”
When Bartiromo brought up DeSantis’ collaboration with those advocating for a government shutdown, McCarthy expressed skepticism about its effectiveness. He remarked, “A shutdown would only give strength to the Democrats,” and added, “It would give the power to Biden. It wouldn’t pay our troops. It wouldn’t pay our border agents.”
McCarthy praised Trump’s strategic acumen, stating, “President Trump is so smart, that he was successful in this.” He also pointed out Trump’s current standing in polls against Biden, asserting, “President Trump is beating Biden right now in the polls.” Drawing a comparison between Trump and DeSantis, McCarthy said, “I served with Ron DeSantis – he’s not at the same level as President Trump by any shape or form. He would not have gotten elected without President Trump’s endorsement.”
Though not an outright endorsement, McCarthy’s words resonate as a nod of support towards the former president. This comes after a previous incident in June where McCarthy’s comments on CNBC seemed less favorable towards Trump, suggesting uncertainty about Trump’s ability to defeat Biden. McCarthy later retracted those comments, expressing his belief in Trump as “the STRONGEST opponent to Biden” in a fundraising email.
As McCarthy extends this olive branch to Trump, he continues to navigate challenges within the House Freedom Caucus regarding the current budget deal. The outcome remains uncertain, especially given the HFC’s past resistance to McCarthy’s leadership, even with Trump’s backing.
