House Speaker Chaos Signals Donald Trump’s Shrinking Influence

• Trump’s allies repeatedly rejected Kevin McCarthy for House speaker, demonstrating his power’s limits.

• McCarthy may have won, but it was a terrible outcome for the institution, Republicans and Trump.
• “He is losing them. One Trump critic stated, “Finally!”

One thing about Donald Trump was revealed after a week of House speaker chaos: He can’t get his MAGA house in place.

His staunch allies’ repeated rejection of Kevin McCarthy, Republican leader, as the new House Speaker, over multiple voting days further exposed the ex-president’s power over his movement. If McCarthy squeaks through as speaker, the wild process still looked terribly ugly for the institution, Republicans — and Trump.

Trump made overtures Trump has called “my Kevin”, the opposition to McCarthy, and they didn’t listen. They didn’t listen. They responded to “my Kevin” by voting “never Kevin” more than 12 times, making this the most contestedSince 1821, speaker race  

“He’s losing them. Ron Filipkowski (criminal defense attorney), a former Republican who spoke out against the decision, said, “Eventually.” monitors Trump’s base online.

Ryan Zinke, Trump’s former Interior Secretary, said on “CNN Tonight” that Trump’s influence over Republicans was evident. “absolutely” waning McCarthy’s endorsement did not win him more votes.

McCarthy has been opposed by House dissidents over issues that have nothing to do with Trump. They want The rank-and-file members have more power and it is easier to remove the speaker. They don’t believe McCarthy.

Trump is embarrassed by their opposition to him. Trump put his waning political capital on line for the California Republican but failed to force his MAGA supporters to follow his lead.

“REPUBLICANS, DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT. It’s time to celebrate, you deserve it,” Trump wrote on Wednesday on Truth Social.

His plea made no difference, failing to move any votes.

At one point he tried to spin the loss as a “VICTORY” because he said the numerous votes made the “position & process of getting to be Speaker BIGGER & MORE IMPORTANT.”

McCarthy was unable to flip members’ votes until Friday after the drama began on Tuesday. McCarthy’s worst moment was when 20 Republicans opposed him, while one voted “present”. By the end of the week, however, seven Republicans had voted “no”.

Rep. Lauren Boebert from Colorado was one of them.

“Let’s end with the campaign smears. We have used tactics and tactics to get people to turn away from us. Even having my favorite president call me and tell us that ‘We must knock this off.’ Boebert said on the House floor on Wednesday.

She continued, “I think it actually has to be reversed.” “The president should tell Kevin McCarthy, “Sir, the votes are not available, and it’s time for you to withdraw.”

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz defied Trump by twice nominating Trump as speaker. But he was still the only RepublicanVote for Trump

“Sad!”

On Wednesday, Gaetz said to Fox News Digital about Trump’s endorsement in McCarthy.

“Sad!” Gaetz said in Trump-style statement. “This does not change neither my view of Trump nor McCarthy.

Trump, now a 2024 presidential hopeful, has endorsed 80% the anti-McCarthy campaign ahead of the 2022 Midterms. This leaves only Andy Biggs of Arizona and Andy Harris of Maryland, Chip Roy, Texas, Keith Self, Texas, and Chip Roy of Texas to defend themselves. 

The former president’s calls to rally behind McCarthy must have rang hollow to congressional newcomers Reps.-elect Andy Ogles of Tennessee, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, and Self — all of whom voted squarely with the anti-McCarthy bloc until Friday afternoon. Through the thirteenth speaker ballot, Rep.-elect Eli Crane from Arizona remained with rebels.  

Rep.-elect Cory Mills, a freshman who has consistently backed McCarthy, said he appreciates vigorous debate — “I’m fine with democracy. It’s messy sometimes, but it’s the way to go,” he said just off the House floor — but he chided colleagues who he suspected were obstructing Trump’s America First agenda for their personal gain. 

Mills stated that “If your primary concern is your situation, your committee assignment and the title you hold, that’s your country above all else.” 

Outside the Capitol, Trump’s supporters showed brazen defiance. The Conservative Action Project, a group that includes Ginni Thomas, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife, supports the dissidents. They attacked McCarthy in an open letter on WednesdayHe encouraged more Republicans join his opponents.

On Friday, anti-McCarthy Republicans met at the Conservative Partnership Institute offices, which is headed by Mark Meadows, Trump’s former White House chief staff officer, and former Sen. Jim DeMint. Yahoo News reported.

As rebel Republicans nominated anti McCarthy members, 212 Democrats voted for Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffreyries of New York, even though they were now the minority party. “He doesn’t grovel or make excuses for an twice-impeached so-called ex-president,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar of the House Democratic Caucus. in an apparent dig at both Trump and McCarthy.

“He still has the power of destruction”

Trump has been flailing himself as he faces mounting pressures legal challenges. Republicans blamed him on their midterm losses. Most Americans — 55% — have an unfavorable opinion of him, according to a FiveThirtyEight polling average. He invited journalists to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida for a “media availability” on New Year’s Eve. no cable news networks Raw Story claims that it was covered.

Charlie Sykes, editor at The Bulwark, wrote that Trump is not irrelevant because he still has power to destroy. “A single statement on his fail site could end all of McCarthy’s ambitions.” 

Sykes, however, wrote that Trump’s “shrunken power was remarkably evident” during House events. He said that Trump had “thrown his weight behind His Kevin” only to have his most loyal supporters “blow him off.”

Filipkowski told Insider MAGA House members are “just turning their eyes and yawning” because “they know he’s lost his plot” while “isolated at Mar-a-Lago” and “surrounded by “yes” men.

Trump’s words matter because McCarthy “would be toast” if he withdrew support. Filipkowski said that although his word doesn’t weight as much as it did prior to the midterms disaster, his word matters. He stated that House members who responded to the MAGA bases do not have reason to fear Trump.

Filipkowski stated, “They have the votes on this, and not him.”