| [0.00s -> 12.02s] When I talked with you yesterday, before you introduced the motion, you didn't sound confident that you would have the votes. Now you do. What does that tell you about where your conference is at? What it tells me is that you're very poor at reading confidence. | |
| [12.02s -> 26.40s] The House of Representatives today to whose benefit? People have called you a narcissist. People say there is to your benefit alone. Is it to the benefit of you? | |
| [26.40s -> 37.47s] It's the benefit of this country that we have a better Speaker of the House than Kevin McCarthy. Kevin McCarthy couldn't keep his word. He made an agreement in January regarding the way Washington would work, and he violated that agreement. | |
| [37.47s -> 45.36s] We are $33 trillion in debt. We are facing $2.2 trillion annual deficits. We face a de-dollarization globally that... | |
| [45.36s -> 58.00s] will crush Americans, working class Americans. Kevin McCarthy is a feature of the swamp. He has risen to power by collecting special interest money and redistributing that money in exchange for favors. | |
| [58.00s -> 60.46s] We are breaking the fever now. | |
| [60.46s -> 74.74s] and we should elect a speaker who's better. You said last night that Steve Scalise was a name that you floated to potentially be speaker. Where do things stand right now? If not McCarthy, then who? Well, you know, the stages of grief, I think, are... | |
| [74.74s -> 83.18s] right now with some of my colleagues. I think there was a stage of denial and I've certainly experienced a good amount of their anger and now we appear to be headed toward bargaining. | |
| [83.18s -> 94.80s] I think the world of Steve Scalise. I think he'd make a phenomenal speaker. Congressman Gates, at this point, do you think that the speaker should get expelled? I'm afraid of $33 trillion in debt crushing the working people in my district. | |
| [94.80s -> 98.58s] I'm afraid of the dollar losing its status as the global reserve currency. | |
| [98.58s -> 112.85s] If they want to expel me, let me know when they have the vote. Congressman Gates, at this point, Congressman Gates, at this point. We've got less than 45 days left before you have to pass a budget, which is something that you've been wanting to do. Doesn't this just completely paralyze the House? | |
| [112.85s -> 114.46s] 15 more rounds. | |
| [114.46s -> 128.75s] I don't think we will. I think Kevin McCarthy should take a hint. After 15 ballots to become speaker, after eight months of a failed speakership, and after removal in this historic manner, I think we should move on and find some... | |
| [128.75s -> 139.66s] else. What's paralyzed the House of Representatives has been the failure of Speaker McCarthy. What paralyzed the House of Representatives was not taking up appropriations bills. We left for a six week vacation. | |
| [139.66s -> 149.02s] while the appropriations process hung in the balance and because i forced these people to take a few votes you think i'm paralyzing the house of representatives i think the house of representatives | |
| [149.02s -> 163.41s] been paralyzed for the last several decades as we've refused to pass a budget as we've governed by continuing resolution and omnibus bill. So I think that this represents the ripping off of the band-aid and that's what we need to do to get back on track. | |
| [163.41s -> 167.18s] Congressman Gates, what do you say to your colleagues? | |
| [167.18s -> 181.49s] who argue you don't have another name right now. You don't have someone else who could get 218 votes. What do you tell those people? Well, I would tell them that for certain, Kevin McCarthy can't get 218 votes, so let's try the next person. | |
| [181.49s -> 183.55s] them obviously. | |
| [183.55s -> 197.84s] There would have to be a real meeting of the minds there. I'm sorry, someone else, you've had a question. Are you going to ask for a guarantee from whoever is floated as a candidate for the next speaker for them to actually move? | |
| [197.84s -> 212.05s] the appropriations process along in a speed that satisfies you? Yes. Congressman, at this point, would you be putting yourself forward for the speakership? Absolutely not. I have no desire to be speaker. | |
| [212.05s -> 222.75s] 200 Republicans behind him. I think the world's Tom Emmer. He'd make a great speaker. Congressman, have you spoken with Tom Emmer? | |
| [222.75s -> 232.45s] I've spoken with him, but I'll probably keep our conversations between | |
| [232.45s -> 245.76s] We've got to move to the next step. We are not at the end of this process. At most, we're approaching halftime. We've got to be able to assemble a governing coalition. We have to build from a place of trust. | |
| [245.76s -> 260.08s] The reason Kevin McCarthy went down today is because nobody trusts Kevin McCarthy. Kevin McCarthy has made multiple contradictory promises, and when they all came due, he lost votes of people who maybe don't even ideologically agree with me on everything. Take, for example... | |
| [260.08s -> 273.25s] my colleague from south carolina miss mace she's she has different views than i do on a variety of subjects but what we had in common kevin mccarthy lied to congressman hold on a second you're saying that nobody trusts kevin mccarthy can you talk about | |
| [273.25s -> 283.12s] including yourself about seven republicans compared to about 200 and and about you know some other republicans who actually do trust him so can you | |
| [283.12s -> 297.42s] Can you kind of explain that here? Well, as it turns out, getting 200 Republicans to trust you isn't enough to stay Speaker. Congressman, at this point, would you require that any... | |
| [297.42s -> 309.44s] I have spoken to President Trump over the last several days. The ousting only occurred several minutes ago, so we haven't spoken during that time. At this point, are you going to require that any speaker... He didn't think this was a good idea. He didn't want to see Republicans... | |
| [309.44s -> 315.92s] fighting with other Republicans, how do you respond to the former president? I would say that... | |
| [315.92s -> 327.47s] My conversations with the former president leave me with great confidence that I'm doing the right thing. Did the former president call you today? What's your message to Americans who are concerned about the future of the conservative agenda in the House GOP? | |
| [327.47s -> 339.78s] I would say that the conservative agenda was being paralyzed by Speaker McCarthy. We hadn't even sent a subpoena to Hunter Biden. Our oversight was lackluster. Our spending priorities were misaligned. | |
| [339.78s -> 354.10s] The top line budget was going to lead to more inflation, more debt, more challenges. So the best way to advance the conservative agenda is to move forward with a new speaker. Are you going to require that any future speaker elected? | |
| [354.10s -> 366.58s] allows the motion to vacate to stay at a one-person threshold? Yes. Considering that Steve Scalise votes in line with Speaker McCarthy most of the time, why should he want the job after this just happened? | |
| [366.58s -> 378.32s] That's a question for him, I guess, not me. He's already said he's uninterested. I haven't heard him say that. Well, here's what I would say. I think a lot of members are going to reflect on their thinking. | |
| [378.32s -> 392.59s] after this historic moment. I think anything that people have said before the McCarthy ouster is probably bearing less weight than the way people may be thinking about these questions after the McCarthy ouster. | |
| [392.59s -> 396.98s] Will you yourself nominate Steve Scalise for Speaker of the House? Maybe. | |
| [396.98s -> 411.31s] I want to hear from him. I mean, I'm not here to make a judgment on where Mr. Scully stands with his rehabilitation and recovery. I would give him the deference to be able to decide whether or not he'd like to put himself forward as a candidate, but he'd be the type of person. | |
| [411.31s -> 425.52s] that I could see myself supporting. There are many people, though. I could see myself supporting Tom Emmer. I could see myself supporting Mike Johnson of Louisiana. I could see myself supporting Jody Arrington of Texas. I could see myself supporting Kevin Herring of Oklahoma. And there are even people outside. | |
| [425.52s -> 439.73s] of the United States Congress, like Lee Zeldin, who are well thought of across every aspect of our conference. And I may give Lee Zeldin a call and see if he's interested in that gig. Congressman, you've succeeded in pushing the House to move forward with the appropriations process as you wanted. You've succeeded in... | |
| [439.73s -> 451.94s] Thank you for that acknowledgement. Because I just heard on the floor a bunch of these McCarthy allies say, well, gosh, it's Kevin McCarthy who led us to this moment with the single subject appropriations bills. And in fact, the only work we've gotten done has been with a... | |
| [451.94s -> 465.47s] political gun to the speaker so you've gotten that accomplished the former speaker you've gotten the speaker out said what's next well the next we gotta elect a new speaker sorry guys how long do you think it's gonna take florida in 2026 no excuse me if nobody you support can get you | |