News · Press Release

Kevin McCarthy’s Drastic Reversal on Trump After January 6 Ranks High Among GOP Flip-Flops

McCarthy called out for his extremist flip-flop on Trump’s role in January 6th Capitol attack

Since a violent, right-wing mob attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, extremist ringleader Kevin McCarthy has done a complete 180, going from unequivocally  blaming President Trump for the violence, to blatantly attempting to gaslight the American people.

According to a new report from the Washington Post highlighting the GOP’s biggest flip-floppers, McCarthy ranks second among Republicans who were quick to try and scurry back into Trump’s good graces after he incited the fatal insurrection on January 6th that killed five people and injured 140 officers. McCarthy’s shameful attempts to flip-flop and hide the truth from the American people for cheap political cover shows voters exactly what kind of “leader” he is.

“If there’s one thing American voters can count on Kevin McCarthy to do, it’s to fail to live up to his word,” said DCCC Spokesperson Nebeyatt Betre. “McCarthy has pushed himself and his caucus to dive deeper and deeper into extremism in a pathetic attempt to avoid accountability for their party at any cost necessary.”

ICYMI

Washington Post – Nikki Haley and the biggest GOP flip-flops on Trump post-Jan. 6, ranked

October 6, 2021

2. Kevin McCarthy

Before: “The president bears responsibility for Wednesday’s attack on Congress by mob rioters. He should have immediately denounced the mob when he saw what was unfolding.”

“… These facts require immediate action from President Trump to accept his share of responsibility, quell the brewing unrest and ensure that President-Elect Biden is able to successfully begin his term. And the president’s immediate action also deserves congressional action, which is why I think a fact-finding commission and a censure resolution would be prudent.” (House floor)

After: “I was the first person to contact him when the riot was going on. He didn’t see it. [How] he ended the call was … telling me he’ll put something out to make sure to stop this. And that’s what he did; he put a video out later.” (Fox News)

McCarthy’s latter statement, as far as we know, is technically true. It’s also a world away from his earlier comments in terms of emphasis — from Trump having failed to “immediately denounce the mob” and deserving to be censured for it, to the idea that Trump kept his word by calling off the mob.

McCarthy has also fought against a bipartisan Jan. 6 commission, despite calling for a “fact-finding commission” and tasking a GOP leader with negotiating it, and he has raised money extensively by hailing Trump’s role in the party, despite Trump having never accepted “his share of responsibility.”

###





Please make sure that the form field below is filled out correctly before submitting.