U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., reacts to a reporter’s question as he arrives for a House Republican conference meeting, where they are expected to discuss an attempt by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to oust him from the speakership, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Oct. 3, 2023.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told his Republican caucus members he will bring a motion that seeks to oust him to a vote Tuesday afternoon, two GOP lawmakers told NBC News.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., a longtime foe of McCarthy’s, on Monday night filed a motion to vacate targeting the speaker’s position.
Gaetz claims that McCarthy no longer represents the interests of the GOP caucus after the Californian worked with Democrats to pass a stopgap funding bill to avoid a government shutdown over the weekend.
Gaetz has been threatening McCarthy with a motion to vacate since he worked with Democrats on a debt ceiling deal in the spring.
McCarthy told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” Tuesday morning Gaetz has “personal things in his life that he has challenges with.”
In January, as a condition to secure enough votes to become speaker, McCarthy agreed to change the rules to lower the threshold needed to bring a motion to oust a speaker from five votes to just one.