Gaetz nominates Trump for House speaker

The Florida GOP congressman has been one of McCarthy's biggest critics and has been adamant that he will never vote for him.

By Charlotte Hazard

Published: January 5, 2023 1:10pm

Updated: January 5, 2023 1:29pm

Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz on Thursday nominated former President Trump for House speaker during the seventh round of balloting.

Gaetz has in the multiple rounds of voting that started Tuesday repeatedly voted in opposition to McCarthy, who continues to come up about 17 votes short of the 218 he needs.

"Kevin McCarthy has offered everything he can think to offer and everything we can think to ask for due to his current state of desperation," Gaetz said in an interview with Fox News. "And I cannot tell you whether that will be enough to get him there. I doubt it will."

Gaetz voted for Trump for speaker despite the former president having urged House Republicans to come together to vote for McCarthy.