Kevin McCarthy Applauded By GOP Colleagues For Defense Of NYT Tapes: Reports

Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), the top Republican in the House, received a standing ovation from colleagues on Wednesday after he defended his bombshell comments that had been leaked to The New York Times, according to several reports.

Last week, the Times published recordings of McCarthy telling other Republican leaders in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack that he planned to encourage then-President Donald Trump to resign.

Despite the clear audio, McCarthy has denied that he ever thought Trump should resign.

He told colleagues at Wednesday’s House Republican conference meeting that he was simply discussing Trump’s options, and that the Times obscured the full context of his comments to highlight divisions in the party, according to CNN reporter Manu Raju.

An unnamed source who was in the room told Washington Post reporter Jacqueline Alemany that McCarthy is “widely supported” among Republicans and would likely become House Speaker if Republicans take control of the chamber in the 2022 midterm elections.

Initially, the Times did not publish the audio clips of McCarthy’s post-Jan. 6 phone calls. The newspaper only did so after he denied the story.

McCarthy can be heard telling colleagues, including Republican Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) that he believed a riot-related impeachment resolution would likely pass, and says he would tell Trump: “It would be my recommendation that you should resign.”

McCarthy also appeared to be ready to sever ties with Trump: “I’ve had it with this guy,” he says in the recording.

“Let me be very clear to all of you, and I have been very clear to the president: He bears responsibilities for his words and actions. No ifs, ands or buts,” McCarthy said at another point.