Most 2024 GOP presidential candidates urge Republicans to stop the chaos after McCarthy’s ouster

NEW YORK — Most of the top Republican candidates running for president in 2024 reacted grimly to the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy by a faction of hard-liners in their own party, while one contender embraced the chaos and the front-runner for the nomination notably did not denounce the move.

A consensus was reached that indicated the necessity for fresh leadership, not only within the House of Representatives but also within the entire party.

“Why do Republicans consistently engage in internal conflicts?” inquired Former President Donald Trump, known for his unreserved inclination to criticize his fellow party members.

He has not weighed in on whether McCarthy, an ally, should have been removed by a flank of the party also closely aligned with him, though he did say Wednesday that he had not encouraged the effort.

McCarthy’s decline as the leader of the House is largely a result of how Trump has transformed and restructured the party throughout the years. The impact of Trump’s influence is particularly evident in the 2024 GOP presidential race, where he is currently leading by a significant margin according to polls.

Trump, speaking Wednesday outside the New York courtroom where he is facing a civil fraud trial, said that his focus is on his presidential campaign and that there are “some great people” in the party who could do a great job in the role.

“I am willing to do whatever it takes to assist, but my main priority – my complete priority – is serving as president and, to be honest, revitalizing America as we are currently witnessing a decline in our nation.”

Former Governor Christie of New Jersey, who was a rival of President Trump and one of his most vocal critics, described McCarthy’s removal as “regrettably highly anticipated” and characterized it as a “political assassination.”

During an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Wednesday, Christie expressed that he would advise voters who perceive his party as unmanageable to evaluate each Republican individually based on their own qualities.

Former Vice President Mike Pence characterized the transition of House leadership as a diversion.

“I must emphasize that chaos is never beneficial for America. It also poses a threat to struggling American families,” he expressed during a national security and foreign policy gathering at Georgetown University, which was co-hosted by The Associated Press.

Pence expressed his profound disappointment that a small group of Republicans would join forces with the entire Democratic party in the House of Representatives to remove the speaker of the House.

He described the removal as a form of “political performance art” and emphasized the necessity for fresh leadership in Washington.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who had previously criticized McCarthy, expressed similar sentiments, referring to his removal as “a display of theatrics and disorder.”

“I cannot reword”

“We require effective leadership to emerge and serve the people we represent. It is crucial to establish order, ensure efficient functioning of the government, and achieve tangible outcomes.”

Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur, embraced the disorder.

Ramaswamy, a candidate known for adopting controversial stances, expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs and emphasized the importance of devising a strategy to tackle pressing matters such as the national debt.

“I cannot reword”

Meanwhile, Trump did not rule out the possibility that he might consider serving as House speaker himself. The U.S. Constitution does not specify that the speaker of the House be an elected representative of a congressional district, but all of them have been.

“I have received numerous calls regarding the speaker. My response is that we will make decisions based on what is most beneficial for the county and the Republican Party,” Trump stated to reporters upon his arrival at court.

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This report was contributed to by Jill Colvin, a writer for the Associated Press based in New York.