Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy argued that the Democratic lawmakers want to “confuse” voters over the Trump administration’s deportations, which they are strategically doing ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

McCarthy’s assessment comes as some Democrats have targeted the deportation of illegal immigrants by the current administration, as Rep. Richie Torres (D-NY) claimed that President Donald Trump could imprison anyone by labeling them “a non-citizen gang member.” The former House speaker, however, argued that since Democrats lost voters in the 2024 election cycle over immigration, the party is now trying to “reframe” their argument and “change the topic.”