Ex-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Praises Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene For Being A ‘Very Serious Legislator’

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy praised GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for being a “very serious legislator” despite her remarks about replacing House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Fox News host Brian Kilmeade noted in an interview with McCarthy that Greene is hoping to oust Johnson, much like Rep. Matt Gaetz deposed him on October 3, 2023.

“Now what she’s doing is much different than what Matt Gaetz is doing – did,” the former House speaker stated. “She didn’t make it privileged, so it’s not up for a vote.”

“And the one thing I’ve always found about Marjorie is she’s a very serious legislator that deals with policy,” he added. 

“And the best way to deal with anyone like that is to sit down and talk to them,” he continued. “I don’t believe the speaker has spoken to Marjorie. I think if you sit down and discuss, you understand you have Congress, that you don’t control all. You have to find common ground in between. And that could be done. Those are two conservatives. They can do it.”

“But the one thing I would tell you is – I knew back when I was there, we were gonna be able to get border security with Ukraine,” McCarthy recalled. “Right now, you’re at a weaker hand that they’re just talking about Ukraine only.”

“I think there’s a way to bring everyone together on both sides,” he declared. And you’re the majority. You are the speaker. You’re the Republicans’ majority in the House.”

McCarthy was asked why one would “elevate the Democratic leader to being speaker” when they could “go directly in with the president and negotiate” since “that’s a stronger hand.”

“That’s what we did in fiscal responsibility—how we cut $2 trillion—and got welfare reform. These are all things that the Democrats would never agree to, but you use the strength of the majority to get them,” McCarthy said.

“So don’t sit back and say, ‘What can I do?'” he said. “Be the majority and sit back and say, ‘This is what we’re going to do,’ and negotiate it from a strong position.”

Kilmeade interrupted McCarthy and asked if he did not believe Greene “is gonna go through with” ousting Johnson.

“No,” the former House speaker replied.

“Marjorie didn’t make it privileged,” he argued. “What she did is she set down a marker, and the best thing anybody could do is sit down and talk to her,” McCarthy argued. “She has policy issues. There’s a way to find common ground.”

“We did it every day when we secured the border, Parents Bill Of Rights, our energy bill, stopping [Washington] D.C. from lowering their criminal punishments,” McCarthy claimed. “I mean, we were successful after – those first nine months were very successful in a very small majority. We can do it again.”