House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., cast doubt Tuesday on whether former President Donald Trump is the most formidable Republican candidate to challenge President Joe Biden in 2024.
During an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” McCarthy stated, “Can he win that election? Yeah he can. The question is, is he the strongest to win the election?”
McCarthy admitted, “I don’t know that answer.”
He added, “But can anybody beat Biden? Yeah, anybody can beat Biden. Can Biden beat other people? Yes, Biden can beat them. It’s on any given day.”
McCarthy’s remarks on CNBC contrasted his usual unwavering support for Trump. As the leader of a narrow House Republican majority, McCarthy oversees factions within his party that remain loyal to the former president.
Both Trump and McCarthy’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment on McCarthy’s statements.
Despite recent controversies, Trump remains the clear frontrunner in the Republican primary. National polls consistently show him ahead of his closest rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, by a substantial margin.
However, Trump’s previous defeat against Biden in the 2020 election, his two impeachments, and ongoing false claims of election fraud have impacted his standing. Furthermore, he faces legal challenges with two criminal cases and multiple investigations against him.
Initially, McCarthy held Trump partially responsible for the January 6 Capitol riot that led to the former president’s second impeachment. However, following a meeting with Trump, McCarthy has consistently defended him.
McCarthy had received Trump’s endorsement for the position of Speaker in January, urging skeptical Republicans to unify behind him.
Additionally, McCarthy has expressed support for a proposal to remove both of Trump’s impeachment charges.
During his CNBC appearance, McCarthy emphasized the superiority of Trump’s policies over Biden’s. He stated, “If Trump is the nominee, then based on policy alone, it’s not just good for Republicans — it’s good for America. Trump’s policies are better and more straightforward than Biden’s.”
He acknowledged the complications arising from Trump’s legal troubles.
In a subsequent interview with Breitbart News, McCarthy offered further praise for Trump, claiming the former president is currently stronger than he was in 2016.
McCarthy also accused news outlets of attempting to create a divide between Trump and House Republicans.
“The only reason Biden is using the federal government to go after President Trump is because Trump remains his strongest political opponent, as proven by ongoing polls,” McCarthy stated to Breitbart.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
