Simmering tensions between Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) are boiling over as the Florida Republican heightens his threat to oust the GOP leader from his post.
The bitterness between the two GOP lawmakers — which stretches back to the Speaker’s race in January — hit a fever pitch on Tuesday when Gaetz warned that he would force a vote on taking McCarthy’s gavel if the California Republican did not meet a series of demands on spending and legislation.
McCarthy shot back in an expletive-laden rant Thursday, daring Gaetz to “file the f‑‑‑ing motion” to try and boot him from the Speakership.
While the war of words between the pair of Republicans is nothing new, the current clash comes at a precarious moment for the House GOP conference, as McCarthy navigates the fine line of avoiding a government shutdown without angering his right flank to the point of losing his gavel.
Tensions between McCarthy and Gaetz were on the rise over August recess, with the Florida Republican warning the Speaker that he could lose his gavel if he stands in the way of Gaetz’s efforts to force votes on impeachment.
Read more at AOL.com
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