'Pugnacious' MAGA 'firebrands' won’t give Kevin McCarthy a moment’s peace

As right-wing and pro-Donald Trump as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) has been, many MAGA Republicans insist that he isn't right-wing or pro-Trump enough.

McCarthy has been slamming special counsel Jack Smith, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in response to the 37-count federal criminal indictment that Trump is facing. And he is equally critical of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. because of the 34-count criminal indictment that Trump is up against in New York State.

But no matter how much McCarthy defends Trump, his MAGA critics on the far right cannot be placated.

READ MORE: Kevin McCarthy floats impeaching Merrick Garland

Politico's Rachel Bade, in an article published on July 28, reports that Trumpworld has "flipped out" because of comments McCarthy made about the 2024 presidential election during a Tuesday, June 27 appearance on CNBC.

McCarthy said of a possible rematch between President Joe Biden and Trump, "Can he win that election? Yeah, he can win that election. The question is: Is he the strongest to win the election?' I don't know that answer."

The fact that the House speaker even entertained, for a minute, the possibility of Republicans nominating someone other than Trump — be it Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley or Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) — is infuriating Trump loyalists.

"Some called McCarthy a 'moron,'" Bade explains. "Others looked to Trump campaign hand Brian Jack, who also advises the speaker and has been a critical bridge between both men, to play mediator as Trump hit the trail in New Hampshire. McCarthy immediately pivoted into clean-up mode. He called Trump to apologize, according to the New York Times. He offered Breitbart reporter Matt Boyle an exclusive interview, during which he walked the comments back and accused the media of taking them out of context. 'Trump is stronger today than he was in 2016,' McCarthy told Boyle."

READ MORE: Kevin McCarthy’s hometown newspaper drags him for disparaging journalists

Bade continues, "None of these moves assuaged the fury in Trump's inner circle, people familiar with the matter told Politico. McCarthy, they feel, has taken advantage of the former president when it benefits him and failed to show unflinching loyalty in return. They don't understand how he could 'misspeak' — as McCarthy, we're told, put it to Trump — on something so critical."

Meanwhile, in an article published by The Hill on June 27, journalist Mike Lillis reports that McCarthy is "increasingly bending to the demands of the conservative fringe of his GOP conference, a dynamic highlighted this week by his surprise threat to impeach U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland."

The speaker, according to Lillis, is "compelled, more and more, to act on the demands of the small but pugnacious group of conservative firebrands who have threatened his speakership from the first days of January and are vowing to exert their leverage to obtain their legislative objectives."

Those "firebrands," Lillis reports, include Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado) and Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Arizona), among others.

"In recent weeks," Lillis explains, "the speaker has catered to his right flank by targeting next year's spending at levels below those outlined in the bipartisan debt limit deal. He's endorsed a resolution to censure Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) after an initial vote splintered the GOP. He's swallowed a vote to impeach President Biden — even if only to punt the issue to committee."

Lillis continues, "He's championed resolutions to expunge the two impeachments of former President Trump. And most recently, he's adopted a harder line on the ouster of cabinet officials, like Garland."

Rep. Annie Kuster (D-New Hampshire) argues that McCarthy's willingness to pander to the MAGA far right is not only frustrating Democrats, but also, more moderate Republicans.

"The speaker is catering to an extreme element in his caucus," Kuster recently told reporters, "and I don't even think the majority of his caucus agrees with that position."

READ MORE: Kevin McCarthy lets it slip he thinks Trump is going to jail

Read Politico's full report at this link and find The Hill's article here.