Donald Trump's McCarthy endorsement a non-factor in GOP speaker standoff

The former president's warning to MAGA Republicans has made no difference.

January 4, 2023, 6:13 PM

As Kevin McCarthy faced Day 2 of his struggle to become House speaker, he got an enthusiastic vote of confidence from Donald Trump.

The former president did more than endorse McCarthy for speaker (something he had already done months ago); he warned Republicans that failing to elect McCarthy would be a disaster for the Republican Party.

"VOTE FOR KEVIN," Trump admonished in all-caps on his Truth Social platform Wednesday morning. "DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT."

And what happened? Not a single anti-McCarthy Republican did what Trump asked. In fact, the number of votes for McCarthy actually went down in the round of balloting after Trump's statement, as Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., switched from voting in favor of McCarthy to voting "present."

PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at Mar-a-lago on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022, in Palm Beach, Fla.
Former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at Mar-a-lago on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022, in Palm Beach, Fla.
Andrew Harnik/AP, FILE

Afterward, Spartz was utterly dismissive of Trump's McCarthy endorsement.

"I am an independent legislator," she told reporters. "I care what my people say and the people who elected me."

PHOTO: Rep. Lauren Boebert delivers remarks in the House Chamber during the second day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 4, 2023 in Washington.
Rep. Lauren Boebert delivers remarks in the House Chamber during the second day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 4, 2023 in Washington.
Win Mcnamee/Getty Images

Anti-McCarthy hardliner and die-hard Trump-backer Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado not only disregarded his warning -- she called him out on the House floor.

"Let's stop with the campaign smears and tactics to get people to turn against us, even having my favorite president call us and tell us we need to knock this off, I think it actually needs to be reversed. The president needs to tell Kevin McCarthy that, sir, you do not have the votes and it's time to withdraw."

PHOTO: House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy listens in the House Chamber during the second day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Jan. 4, 2023, in Washington.
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy listens in the House Chamber during the second day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Jan. 4, 2023, in Washington.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Donald Trump's inability to sway a single Republican vote says as much about Trump as it does about McCarthy.

The anti-McCarthy revolt has been led by some of the most fervently pro-Trump Republicans in the House. If Trump is powerless to influence even their votes, what power does Trump really have?

PHOTO: U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, speaks while U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence listen during an event at the White House in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, April 22, 2020.
U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, speaks while U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence listen during an event at the White House in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, April 22, 2020.
Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE

McCarthy worked hard to get Trump's endorsement. He cultivated a close relationship with Trump while he was president and became the first Republican leader to visit Mar-a-Lago after Trump left the White House, famously posing in a photo with Trump a mere three weeks after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

In a way, McCarthy's strategy worked. Trump has consistently supported McCarthy's bid for speaker, endorsing him even before Republicans won the majority las November.

Trump has even made calls to House Republicans urging them to vote for McCarthy. But winning Trump's support, hasn't helped McCarthy win the speakership.

As one close adviser to Trump told ABC News, "To be brutally frank, I'm not sure he's moved one vote."