WASHINGTON: Ousted Speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday termed vote to remove him as personal.
McCarthy made the remarks during a press conference at the Capitol hours after he was ousted as Speaker.
He said that he would not run for Speaker again and reiterated his commitment to US support for Ukraine.
He said the group that ousted him were not conservatives. The politician criticized his Florida colleague, Matt Gaetz, and the seven other Republicans who voted against him.
“You know it was personal, it had nothing to do with spending,” he said.
Referring to his ouster he said he made a history. The California Republican said: I’m not quite sure those individuals are looking to be productive. He said he wanted to be a Republican and conservative that governs.
The US House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker. The result came following a nail-biting, but lengthy, roll call that needed every lawmaker to put their choice on the record, Western media reported.
Read Also: McCarthy Ousted as US House Speaker
As per media reports some 216 members- including 8 Republicans – voted to remove Kevin McCarthy from the Speaker’s chair. This is a major win for the rebellious faction of hardliner Republicans led by Matt Gaetz.
McCarthy Ousted as US House Speaker
The extraordinary move laid bare the confused levels of internecine squabbling in Republicans as they prepare for a 2024 presidential polls effort led by former President Donald Trump. The first removal of a speaker in the US House of Representatives 234-year history was backed by several right-wing Republicans.
He had sparked anger among conservatives at the weekend when he approved a bipartisan stopgap funding step backed by the White House to avoid a government shutdown.
Republican lawmakers were warned by leadership regarding plunging the party “into chaos” but Gaetz, who has complained regarding McCarthy’s failing to honor deals made with the far right, responded: “Chaos is McCarthy.”
After the development, US President Joe Biden has asked the US House of Representatives to quickly elect a new speaker following Kevin McCarthy was axed by Republicans, the White House said.
In a statement, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “Because the urgent challenges facing our country will not wait, he expresses hope the US House of Representatives will rapidly choose a speaker,”.
