In an exclusive interview with Breitbart News, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) expressed his unwavering belief that former President Donald Trump has grown even stronger since his successful 2016 campaign.
.@SpeakerMcCarthy told Breitbart News exclusively that he believes former President Donald Trump is “stronger today than he was in 2016.” https://t.co/ejTQ3wiD4f
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) June 27, 2023
McCarthy debunked attempts by the media to create divisions between Trump and House Republicans, asserting that the ongoing investigations into the Department of Justice’s practices under the Biden administration were politically motivated due to Trump’s standing as the most formidable opponent to President Biden.
Citing recent Morning Consult polls, McCarthy emphasized that Trump, for the first time since the pollster began tracking, is leading President Joe Biden.
“Just look at the numbers this morning—Trump is stronger today than he was in 2016,” the speaker declared, pointing to numbers that clearly indicate that Trump’s popularity has surged, further solidifying him as a formidable contender in the next election.
McCarthy’s statements follow the misrepresentation of his recent appearance on CNBC by a CNN reporter. While the reporter selectively quoted McCarthy to suggest criticism of Trump, the full conversation paints a different picture — a staunch defense of the former president.
In the interview, McCarthy affirmed Trump’s ability to defeat Biden in a general election. When asked about the GOP’s prospects with Trump as the nominee, he emphasized that the priority should be what is best for America, and Trump’s policies, in his view, offer a straightforward and superior approach compared to Biden’s.
The Republican, who was endorsed by Trump for speaker in January, further argued that Trump’s legal challenges could even work to his advantage, making him more resilient and appealing to voters in a general election.
To clarify his stance amidst the media uproar in the wake of Trump’s indictment, McCarthy underscored his belief that the decision ultimately rests with GOP primary voters. He maintained that if the polls continue to indicate strong support for Trump, which seems likely, then Trump can indeed secure victory in the general election.
His exact words were: “Can he win an election? Yeah. The question is–Is he the strongest to win the election? I don’t know that answer. But, can somebody—can anybody—beat Biden? Yeah, anybody can beat Biden. Can Biden beat other people? Yeah, Biden can beat them. It’s on any given day.”
In a misleading tweet, CNN’s Kristen Holmes had framed McCarthy’s statements to mean that he was expressing doubt about Trump’s prospects in a general election. Instead, he was responding to distinct questions about the GOP forerunner’s potential in the primary and general elections.
Kevin McCarthy says he thinks Trump could win the GOP nomination, but doesnt know if Trump is “strongest” candidate for his party.
“Can he win that election? Yeah he can…the question is, is he the strongest to win the election, I don’t know that answer,” McCarthy says on CNBC— Kristen Holmes (@KristenhCNN) June 27, 2023
As the Republican Party prepares for the upcoming election cycle, McCarthy’s endorsement remains undecided. While the media and the left are riding on his CNBC interview to sow discord among GOP voters, his comments to Breitbart News point to an unwavering belief in Trump’s strength and the positive trajectory of his candidacy against Biden.
