California Republican Kevin McCarthy holds a place in history as the first-ever Speaker of the House to be voted out of that position. Historic, but looking at how his tenure began, hardly a shock. Back in January, it took McCarthy 15 ballots – more than any Speaker dating back before the Civil War – to win the gavel.
McCarthy said, "When you go into the Senate, it's like being in a country club – not a lot of people around. The House is like you walk into a truck stop to have breakfast. But that's the way the founders designed it. We're a microcosm of society, so everything good and bad in society is gonna be here."
"It's rough. Truck-stop rough," said Costa.
"But it's good."
"But eight of them kicked you out of the Speakership," Costa said. "[And] there are still those in the ranks who want to burn the House down."
"I never said it'd be fair," McCarthy replied. "But, you know, I give as good as I get."
Since he was elected to Congress in 2006 and rose as a so-called "Young Gun," McCarthy has made no secret of his ambition. And he claims, during the protracted votes for Speaker last January, he never said to himself, Maybe I don't want this job.
"I love the challenge," McCarthy said. "I knew at the time I probably wouldn't be able to end the job, I mean, not on my terms. I knew who I was dealing with. I think history will say they were wrong in that decision."
Now, the 58-year-old McCarthy is quitting Congress a year before his term is out. He leaves Republicans with a slim majority that is struggling mightily to find consensus.
On Friday McCarthy sat down with "CBS News Sunday Morning" for his first TV interview since announcing his retirement from Congress.
Costa asked, "Let me read you a quote from the famous Speaker Sam Rayburn: 'Any jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a carpenter to build it.' Is he right? Especially when it comes to this place, the House of Representatives?"
"Yeah," McCarthy replied. "And it takes a lot of builders. I mean, I've had the privilege of being here 17 years, and I got to be a part of building two majorities.
I come from California. I grew up in a family that were Democrats. I applied for [an] internship in a Congressional seat. I got turned down. And now, I got elected to that seat I couldn't get an internship for, and I got to be the 55th Speaker of the House. Tell me any other country is that possible in?
But at the same time, how do you reconcile all of that good feeling with the eight who pushed you out? Costa asked. "And they showed the country they don't really want to govern. They like chaos."
"That's true, but you're gonna have that in any industry, in any place that you live."
"I think this is pretty particular to this place."
"Yes, but remember this: For everybody in America, we don't get to hire who works with us, and we don't get to fire who works with us," replied McCarthy.
But it wasn't hard for rank-and file Republicans to fire him. In October, when McCarthy struck a deal to keep the government funded, eight Republicans responded by pushing him out. His chief antagonist: a Congressman from Florida.
- Why oust McCarthy? What Matt Gaetz has said about his motivations to remove the speaker of the House
- Gaetz vs. McCarthy: What we know about the fight to remove the House Speaker
Costa asked, "When you hear the name Matt Gaetz, what word comes to mind?"
McCarthy laughed. "Uhm, I think history will show who Matt Gaetz really is," he replied.
During an interview, Kevin McCarthy was asked if he would support a primary challenge against those who went against him in 2024. McCarthy responded by saying he is not focused on that and that it doesn't determine the future. McCarthy also expressed his support for Donald Trump, stating that he believes Trump will be the nominee for the Republican Party in 2024. He further stated that if Biden remains the nominee for the Democrats, he believes Trump will win and Republicans will gain more seats in the House and win the Senate. McCarthy confirmed that he will support President Trump and when asked if he would be willing to serve in a Trump cabinet, he did not provide a direct answer.
Of course, McCarthy does have a focus these days on the prospects of another Florida resident.
- McCarthy said Trump admitted to bearing "some responsibility" for January 6 attack, audio reveals ("CBS Evening News")
- Audio reveals McCarthy told GOP colleagues Trump "should resign" ("Face the Nation")
- McCarthy denies he ever asked Trump to resign ("CBS Evening News")
- McCarthy says "I don't know" if Trump is "strongest" GOP candidate in 2024
Costa asked, "Will Donald Trump be the nominee?"
"Yes. In the Republican Party? Yes," McCarthy replied. "And if Biden stays as the nominee for the Democrats, I believe Donald Trump will win, I believe that Republicans will gain more seats in the House, and the Republicans will win the Senate."
"Can he count on your support?"
"Yes."
"That's an endorsement?"
"I will support the pres — I will support President Trump," McCarthy replied.
"Would you be willing to serve in a Trump cabinet?" Costa asked.
"If I am the best person for the job, then yes," McCarthy stated confidently. "I have worked closely with President Trump on numerous policies and we have a strong, honest relationship."
McCarthy's relationship with Trump has played a significant role in his political journey. His dramatic shift following the January 6th insurrection – initially blaming Trump for the attack on Congress, then standing by him at Mar-a-Lago two weeks later – drew criticism from Democrats and some Republicans who viewed it as an attempt to rehabilitate a dangerous figure.
Costa questioned McCarthy about his visit to Mar-a-Lago and the perception that he had given Trump a lifeline. McCarthy responded, "That's your opinion. There has been a lot written about it, but I will address it fully in my book."
Costa pressed further, asking if McCarthy was holding anything back. McCarthy firmly denied it, saying, "I am not holding anything back!"
Costa then raised concerns about Trump's language and speeches, suggesting that some Americans see him as an authoritarian or even a fascist. McCarthy was asked how he would address those concerns.
McCarthy responded, "Look, I don't see that, and this is what I tell President Trump, too. What President Trump needs to do in this campaign, it needs to be about rebuilding, restoring, renewing America. It can't be about revenge."
"He's talking about retribution, day in, day out."
"He needs to stop that," McCarthy responded. "He needs to stop that."
"You think he's going to listen to you saying, 'Stop that. Stop that'? He hasn't listened to anybody before."
"That's not true," said McCarthy. "He will adapt when he gets all the facts."
"He's not backing away from his calls for retribution," said Costa.
"Yeah, but remember, you have a check and balance system. And I think, at the end of the day–"
Costa asked, "Where's the check and balance on him in the Republican Party?"
"America doesn't want to see the idea of retribution," said McCarthy. "If it's rebuild, restore and renew, then I think you'll see that. And look – that's him. But I'm not gonna change who I am. And I'm not gonna stop giving him the advice. And look, I lost the job of Speaker. Maybe I don't have the best advice. But I know one thing is, I love this country. I want tomorrow to be better than today. And I'm gonna do everything in my power, and I'm gonna be engaged in the process to make it better."
More on Election 2024 from "Sunday Morning":
- Liz Cheney on why she believes Trump's reelection would mean the end of our republic
- How white evangelicals' support of Trump is creating schisms in the Church
- Mitt Romney on today's Republican Party
- Robert Reich on the narrowly-avoided government shutdown: Republicans holding America hostage
- Why gerrymandering has gotten worse
- 2022's confounding midterms, setting the stage for 2024
