The relationship between allies Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rep. Matt Gaetz seems to have soured after the Georgia lawmaker broke rank and backed Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for House speaker.
The decision did not sit well with Gaetz, who slammed Greene and McCarthy on Monday.
WATCH: MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE TALKS ABOUT GOP ‘CIVIL WAR’ AS HOUSE SPEAKER FIGHT RAGES ON
“Whatever Kevin has promised Marjorie Taylor Greene, I guarantee you this — at the first opportunity, he will zap her faster than you can say Jewish space laser,” the Florida congressman said on FrankSpeech.com, referring to a 2018 Facebook post by Greene, who claimed that a wealthy Jewish family used a satellite to start a devastating California wildfire. Greene, who has a history of pushing antisemitic and anti-Muslim remarks, has been widely mocked for peddling the baseless space laser claim.
Republicans are close to gaining control of the House, and McCarthy has been jockeying to be the speaker. He needs 218 votes to secure the nomination but is facing challenges.
Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, said Monday he would also run for the leadership post.
Greene is far from the only Republican member willing to vote for McCarthy. But the party’s expected majority in the House will be razor-thin, forcing McCarthy to cobble together votes from different factions within his caucus.
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“Look, you guys know where I am ideologically,” Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ) told reporters on Monday. He added, “Let’s be honest, McCarthy is a savant at human nature. So, I think we can make this work.”
