House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy brushed off a recent book excerpt from a pair of New York Times reporters describing interactions with former President Donald Trump in the aftermath of Jan. 6.
After the California Republican scolded Trump in what turned out to be a leaked phone call in which he criticized the former president, Trump told authors Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns he thinks he has an “inferiority complex.”
McCarthy, who has come under fire for his denial of criticisms of Trump and firebrand conservative lawmakers following the riot at the Capitol prior to audio of his remarks being leaked, told the Washington Examiner that he maintains a good relationship with Trump and is not concerned about the remarks.
“No reaction, I just talked to him — the president called me last night,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy, who is vying to be speaker if Republicans flip back the House in November, has come out of the controversy largely unscathed. House Republicans gave him a round of applause at a Wednesday closed-door meeting where he addressed the recent reports and leaked tapes.
But conservatives echoed Trump’s comments about the California Republican.
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“Trump is very perceptive,” one GOP lawmaker said.
“He’s probably one of the most insecure people I’ve ever met,” another senior conservative member added about McCarthy.
But McCarthy allies have alleged that the authors misrepresented the information presented to Trump, asserting they believe he is well-positioned to win the speaker’s gavel.
“These guys, it’s very dishonest the way they’re handling the situation. What they conveyed to Trump that McCarthy said was not what was on the tape,” one senior lawmaker said.
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While the recent reports haven’t led to significant fallout for the leader, multiple conservatives said he should not presume the speaker position. Rather, it should be contingent on how many seats Republicans win and whether additional information emerges about McCarthy and Trump.
Two conservatives, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida and former House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs of Arizona, took aim at McCarthy in a video posted to Twitter on Thursday.
“Basically, don’t trust Mr. McCarthy anymore. He’s going to have to rebuild trust,” Biggs said in the clip.
