Matt Gaetz takes victory lap after GOP rallies behind Speaker Mike Johnson
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz celebrated his spearheading of ousting Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., resulting in Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., serving as the party’s new speaker.
Wednesday afternoon, as Johnson won the speaker’s vote, Gaetz posted a Wall Street Journal article titled, “Matt Gaetz Sees Vindication in a Mike Johnson Win.”
“I believe history will assess these three weeks as the most productive weeks of the 188th congress,” Gaetz told the Journal.
In another repost, Gaetz pointed to a satirical “Matt Gaetz Apology Form.”
“The House Republican Conference is UNITED for the first time this Congress,” Gaetz said Wednesday night. “We are united behind a man of deep faith, who obeys God and the Constitution before all else. I’m proud to support our new Speaker Mike Johnson! I’m going to do everything I can to make him successful.”
Gaetz took heat from a multitude of Republicans after he sided with a few fellow Republican members and House Democrats in ousting McCarthy.
One of the prime issues Gaetz took with McCarthy was a lack of “single subject spending bills,” which the Florida congressman celebrated seems to be an issue very important to Johnson.
“He doesn’t follow the whims and wishes of the lobbyists and special interests,” Gaetz said. “Under his House Speakership, Congress will finally empower the interests of the American people!”
Florida State Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, weighed in on Gaetz’s actions, agreeing that “Florida and America” should “thank” Gaetz.
“He changed the direction of our country for the better,” Gruters said. “Leading with actions.”
Former President Donald Trump also praised Johnson’s speakership victory, saying he would be “fantastic.”
Gaetz, Gruters and Johnson are all supporters of Trump. The former president recently referred to the new House speaker as “MAGA MIKE!”
Johnson’s first official order of business was a resolution expressing support for Israel.
The Conservative Review’s “Liberty Score” hands Johnson a C grade, or 74%, based on his voting record on various issues.
For comparison, McCarthy was given an F.
Other prior speaker candidates, like Florida’s Byron Donalds and Ohio’s Jim Jordan, both received As from the group.
