The latest on efforts to remove McCarthy as speaker:
- The House of Representatives voted this afternoon to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., from his position.
- The House voted 216-210 to oust McCarthy, with a handful of conservatives joining Democrats to remove him. Seven members were absent.
- It is the first time in U.S. history that a speaker of the House has been voted out of office. Here's what happens now
- McCarthy told House Republicans he will not run for speaker again, clearing the way for a new leader.
- Earlier this afternoon, McCarthy's allies forced a vote to try to kill Rep. Matt Gaetz's effort, but it failed, with nearly a dozen Republicans joining all House Democrats to keep the issue alive.
- The House plans to leave for a week and will hold a speaker election next Wednesday.
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Marjorie Taylor Greene says she's backing Trump for speaker
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said in a tweet tonight that former President Donald Trump is the only speaker candidate she's "currently supporting."
“We can make him Speaker and then elect him President!” she wrote.
Earlier today, Rep. Troy E. Nehls, R-Texas, said he plans to nominate Trump for speaker.
The speaker of the House does not need to be a member of Congress.
Pelosi accuses interim House speaker of ordering her to give up office in Capitol
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tonight accused new interim Speaker Patrick McHenry of kicking her out of her workspace in the Capitol just hours after the chamber’s abrupt change in leadership.
Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a statement that she was told she had to “immediately” move out of her so-called hideaway office in the Capitol.
“With all of the important decisions that the new Republican Leadership must address, which we are all eagerly awaiting, one of the first actions taken by the new Speaker Pro Tempore was to order me to immediately vacate my office in the Capitol,” Pelosi said in a statement, referring to McHenry, R-N.C., by his new title.
Most House members have their offices in buildings across the street, but Pelosi has had one in the Capitol because she is a former speaker.
Scalise: There is 'opportunity' to 'continue moving forward'
As Republicans left their meeting earlier tonight, many pointed to Scalise as a potential next speaker.
Scalise didn't refute that's a possibility. But he did acknowledge that the job won't be easy with a caucus that remains in a thin majority.
"So no matter who’s going to be the next speaker, the challenges still remain, but I think the opportunity is there to continue moving forward," he said.
Mitch McConnell praises McCarthy's 'unapologetic patriotism'
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., praised McCarthy in a statement tonight while acknowledging his nine-month tenure as speaker was "bookended by historic fights."
“The Speaker’s appetite for worthy causes steered a narrow majority to seize historic opportunities for the American people and for conservative principles," McConnell said. "His willingness to face the biggest challenges head-on helped preserve the full faith and credit of the United States and showed colleagues how to handle every outcome with grace."
McConnell also said McCarthy embodied qualities of "unapologetic patriotism" and optimism that would "remain a valuable guide” for the House.
McCarthy wraps news conference after more than 45 minutes
McCarthy held a lengthy, wide-ranging news conference tonight after he announced he would not run for speaker again.
The event with reporters lasted about 48 minutes and concluded with McCarthy saying that he felt "blessed" for having served in a variety of leadership roles before he became speaker this year.
"I believe in bringing new blood up and helping them, and I want to help them all the way," McCarthy said.
"Look, I enjoy you," he told reporters at the end. "I don't know if you'll cover me as much, but — I'm sure I won't miss you. But see you soon," he added with a smile before he turned to leave the podium.
‘I’m a free agent now’ in GOP primaries, McCarthy jokes
Asked whether he would support a primary challenger against any of the eight Republicans who voted to oust him, McCarthy said he’s now freer than he had been as speaker.
“When I was running for speaker, I said I couldn’t get involved in primaries,” he told reporters at a lengthy news conference tonight.
“But I told the [Republican] conference, I’m a free agent now, aren’t I? I think I’m pretty good at electing people,” he said.
McCarthy then gestured and said “but no” and appeared to be making a joke.
Trump advisers express skepticism he backed Gaetz’s push to oust McCarthy
In the wake of the historic ouster of McCarthy as House speaker, there is growing intrigue around whether former President Donald Trump supported the move.
Gaetz led the push, which succeeded when eight Republicans joined with all 208 Democrats to boot McCarthy.
After the vote, Gaetz spoke with reporters and suggested that he had Trump's backing.
“My conversations with the former president leave me with great confidence that I did the right thing,” he said.