House speaker vote: McCarthy thanks Trump for final votes as fight nearly breaks out on floor
This blog has now closed.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Kevin McCarthy was finally elected speaker of the House of Representatives after 15 rounds of voting, clinching the gavel just after midnight on Saturday.
The longest contest for speaker of the House of Representatives in more than a century finally came to an end as six remaining Republican holdouts opted to vote “present”, giving Mr McCarthy a majority over Democrat Hakeem Jeffries.
Earlier, Republican House member Mike Rogers had to be physically restrained after lunging at Matt Gaetz amid chaotic scenes in the House.
Congressman Richard Hudson grabbed Mr Rogers by his face and physically pulled him away.
In his first speech as speaker, Mr McCarthy thanked former president Donald Trump for “helping get those final votes”.
Mr McCarthy’s bid had been delayed by a group of far-right Republicans including the likes of Lauren Boebert and Mr Gaetz.
However, on Friday he made significant progress in the 12th ballot, managing to flip a total of 14 representatives-elect in his favour after lengthy negotiations.
Exclusive: AOC says Republican chaos shows how reasonable progressives like the Squad are
Shock scenes as Republican held back in confrontation with Matt Gaetz during Speaker vote
How Matt Gaetz and AOC cleared the air on their positions over Kevin McCarthy voteTrump phone-ins, near-fights and 15 votes: Key moments from a chaotic House Speaker election
Matt Gaetz reveals why he flipped on House speaker vote
Matt Gaetz said he finally agreed to vote “present” after Kevin McCarthy agreed to all of his demands.
“I ran out of things I could even imagine to ask for,” Mr Gaetz told CNN reporter Melanie Zanona after Friday night’s dramatic vote.
After previously vowing to never vote for Mr McCarthy, Mr Gaetz was one of six holdout Republicans who changed their vote to present on Friday night.
Full story below.
Matt Gaetz says he ran out of things to ask for as McCarthy kept caving
‘Never Kevin’ holdouts were given a series of concessions before McCarthy could become Speaker
George Santos sworn in as congressman despite fury over largely faked background
George Santos, the freshman from New York who admitted lying about his professional and education history, has been sworn in as a congressman.
Mr Santos is the subject of a criminal enquiry over his “stunning” deceptions, which included claiming to run an animal charity, that he was Jewish, and that his mother died on 9/11.
But the freshman Republican has vowed to weather the storm of criticism and serve the people of New York’s third congressional district, who are not likely to have another shot at choosing their representation in the House for another two years.
John Bowden has the story.
George Santos sworn in as congressman despite fury over largely faked background
New York Republican could face ethics investigation
McCarthy thanks Trump: ‘I don’t think anyone should doubt his influence'
Kevin McCarthy praised former president Donald Trump for helping to secure his election as Speaker of the House.
“I don’t think anyone should doubt his influence,” Mr McCarthy said after six GOP holdouts voted “present” in the 15th and final ballot.
“He was with me from the beginning. He was all in. What he’s really saying for the party and the country is we have to come together.”
Republican held back in confrontation with Matt Gaetz during Speaker vote
A near-brawl broke out between Republicans on the House floor late on Friday night as four days of frustration at Matt Gaetz’s refusal to back Kevin McCarthy’s teetering bid for Speaker boiled over.
Republican House member Mike Rogers had to be physically restrained after lunging at Mr Gaetz amid chaotic scenes on Capitol Hill.
Congressman Richard Hudson, of North Carolina, grabbed Mr Rogers from behind around his face and shoulder and pulled the irate Alabama Congressman away.
Full story below
Republican held back in confrontation with Matt Gaetz during Speaker votes
Chaos reigned during the final House speaker vote on Friday night, as Rep Mike Rogers had to be physically restrained after apparently lunging towards holdout Matt Gaetz
Marjorie Taylor Greene boasts of ‘perfect phone call’ from Donald Trump
Representative-elect Marjorie Taylor Green boasted of “the perfect phone call” from former president Donald Trump shortly before Kevin McCarthy was elected speaker of the US House of Representatives early on Saturday.
The GOP member elected from Georgia shared a picture of herself holding out her smartphone to colleague Matt Rosendale, with “DT” flashing on the screen, likely referring to the former president.
He could be seen holding his hand out and waving it away, as Ms Greene attempts to hand the phone over to him.
Read on below.
Marjorie Taylor Greene boasts of ‘perfect phone call’ from Trump amid speaker crisis
Greene shared a picture with her phone flashing ‘DT’
Kevin McCarthy’s concessions to far-right Republicans risk tanking the global economy
House Republican Kevin McCarthy’s numerous concessions to the most right-wing members of his conference risk setting the House of Representatives and Congress up for a series of crises over the next two years.
At the top of the list is the US debt ceiling, which far-right lawmakers may hold hostage to extract policy concessions and spending cuts, while endangering the full faith and credit of the US and global economy.
Mr McCarthy and Republican leadership released its proposed rules package on Friday evening ahead of another round of votes to elect a speaker of the House. This came after 14 Republicans who had previously voted against Mr McCarthy flipped their votes to support him during the 13th ballot.
Eric Garcia reports.
McCarthy’s concessions to far-right Republicans could end up tanking global economy
The US defaulting on its debt would risk tanking the US and global economy
AOC says Republican chaos shows how reasonable progressives like the Squad are
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has told The Independent that Republicans’ chaotic efforts to elect a Speaker for the new Congress are serving to highlight how grounded and reasonable she and other members of the so-called Squad of progressive Democrats have been.
Throughout much of her time in Congress, the self-described democratic socialist has heard herself and other progressives described as “unreasonable.” Former-representative Stephanie Murphy even called the coterie of Democrats “the never enough caucus” during negotiations about the bipartisan infrastructure bill and passing Build Back Better.
Eric Garcia has the story.
AOC says Republican chaos shows how reasonable progressives like the Squad are
‘I mean I think it just highlights how how extraordinarily bad faith those accusations of progressive unreasonableness are, even when they come from our side of the aisle’
Matt Gaetz reveals why he flipped on House speaker vote
Matt Gaetz said he finally agreed to vote “present” after Kevin McCarthy agreed to all of his demands.
“I ran out of things I could even imagine to ask for,” Mr Gaetz told CNN reporter Melanie Zanona after Friday night’s dramatic vote.
After previously vowing to never vote for Mr McCarthy, Mr Gaetz was one of six holdout Republicans who changed their vote to present on Friday night.
Full story below.
Matt Gaetz says he ran out of things to ask for as McCarthy kept caving
‘Never Kevin’ holdouts were given a series of concessions before McCarthy could become Speaker
Democrat Katie Porter showed her ‘subtle’ side as Republicans bickered
As Republicans bickered, blustered and nearly came to blows during Friday night’s chaotic House speaker elections, Democrat Katie Porter delivered a none-too subtle riposte.
The California lawmaker was pictured reading The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** in the House Chamber as heated arguments between warring factions of the GOP almost led to a fistfight between Mike Rogers and Matt Gaetz.
Photos of Ms Porter reading Mark Manson’s 2016 bestseller went viral on Twitter.
Joe Biden congratulates McCarthy
President Biden issued a statement congratulating Kevin McCarthy after his election as House Speaker.
The statement read: “Jill and I congratulate Kevin McCarthy on his election as Speaker of the House. As I said after the midterms, I am prepared to work with Republicans when I can and voters made clear that they expect Republicans to be prepared to work with me as well.
“Now that the leadership of the House of Representatives has been decided it is time for that process to begin.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments