Trump ‘is no longer in control’ after House speaker showdown: Former GOP congressman
Former US President Donald Trump is “no longer in control” of the Republican Party, according to former GOP congressman Carlos Curbelo from Florida.
Trump attempted to influence Republicans in Representative Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) battle to become Speaker of the House of the Representatives last week, but it still took numerous rounds of voting for the California Republican to claim the gavel.
“The first time Trump spoke out and kind of pushed these members, people ignored him,” Curbelo told NBC News on Sunday.
“Some of them even vocally said ‘we don’t really care,’ ” he revealed.
Curbelo, who lost a reelection bid in the 2018 midterms, Trump’s influence over Republican lawmakers during his time in Congress was strong.
“When I was in the House, those first two years of the Trump presidency, all of these members would say, ‘Wait, hold on, let’s see what the president is going to do, let’s see what the president is going to say,’ ” Curbelo said. “I think that’s over.”
McCarthy thanked Trump for his support after winning the Speakership early Saturday and rejected the idea that the former president’s influence in the GOP was waning.
“I do want to especially thank President Trump. I don’t think anybody should doubt his influence. He was with me from the beginning,” said McCarthy.
Holding the 15th session of voting on Saturday, the 57-year-old Californian senator won the post with 216 out of 428 possible votes after a contentious four days caused by Republican infighting.
US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has also said that Trump’s political power is “diminished” and others should take his place in the 2024 Senate races.
The GOP leadership pinned the “complete disappointment" for the Republican Party's lackluster performance in the November midterm elections, and subsequent loss of both chambers in Congress, on Trump.
Trump has formally entered the 2024 race for the White House, his third serious presidential bid.
So far, he is the only prominent Republican to enter the race to challenge the incumbent, Joe Biden.
However, his bid has been rejected by most members of the GOP.
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