Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida is making headlines with his latest move against House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. On Tuesday, Gaetz filed a motion to the Republican Steering Committee calling for the removal of McCarthy as House Speaker and his possible replacement with Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio.
Gaetz, who has built a reputation for his combative approach to politics, wrote in the motion that McCarthy is too willing to compromise with the Democratic majority on key issues such as health care, immigration, and infrastructure. Gaetz is also concerned that McCarthy has failed to speak out strongly on the Hunter Biden controversy.
McCarthy has denied all of the allegations from Gaetz, saying that he and his team have worked tirelessly to advance the GOP agenda. He has also characterized Gaetz’s move as a power grab and says that it is an attempt to divide the party as they attempt to regain control of the House in 2022.
While it remains to be seen if the motion will gain any traction, it is clear that Gaetz is angling for a leadership role within the party. His move against McCarthy has won him the support of a number of Republicans, including President Trump who is an ally of Gaetz.
It is also likely that Gaetz is attempting to flex his political muscle and prove that he is a force to be reckoned with. As the GOP begins to look ahead to the 2022 midterms, it will be interesting to see if Gaetz’s move will result in a shift in power within the party.