U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz has filed a motion to remove current House Speaker, Kevin McCarthy from his post. Gaetz, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, is attempting to remove a sitting member of his own party from the position of Speaker.
The motion was filed by Gaetz on Saturday, February 27th and potentially has the power to upset the political landscape in the House of Representatives. McCarthy’s allies contend that the motion to oust him has little chance of success, as it needs the signatures of over half of the current members of the House.
Gaetz’s actions come at a crucial juncture in the House of Representatives. The midterm elections have just passed and the new Congress is just getting settled in. On top of this, McCarthy and House Democrats stand on opposite sides of a number of key issues which could lead to arduous negotiations in the near future.
McCarthy stands staunchly against any sort of impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump, while Democrats are pushing for one. Democrats, led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, are also pushing for major stimulus packages aimed to help struggling families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, while McCarthy and Republicans maintain that they have already done enough.
While the chances of Gaetz’s motion being successful are slim, the mere fact that he filed the motion is sure to create turmoil in the House of Representatives. It’s likely that McCarthy will cling to his position as Speaker in the face of the motion. Whatever happens, it’s sure to be a wild ride.