Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) complained on Wednesday that he was being blamed for House Republicans' dwindling majority after he orchestrated the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
In a special podcast, Gaetz addressed McCarthy's decision to retire from Congress after being removed as speaker of the House.
"But there is a very real math problem that we are confronted with for this departure," Gaetz acknowledged. "We have a four-seat majority that we were elected to. Errantly, foolishly, in violation of precedent and due process, we made the decision to expel George Santos... That takes four down to three. Now McCarthy is saying he's leaving at the end of the year. Takes us down to two."
"And then Bill Johnson, the Republican from Ohio, has indicated that he is taking the university presidency at Youngstown State," he continued. "That will leave us with a one-seat majority."
Gaetz, however, refused to take the blame for the slim majority.
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"Now there has been some commentary on social media that I am to blame," he griped. "That it's my fault that Kevin McCarthy is quitting and leaving early. I don't know anyone else who would just say, well, if I can't run the place, I'm going to leave."
"For all the criticism I've received about not being a team player, I'm here," Gaetz added. "I'm doing the work. I'm taking votes. And the Republican establishment might not like how I vote all the time, but I'm not facilitating a path to hand power to the Democrats."
"That would be more in line with what we see from the former speaker who is on his way out the door," he concluded.
