Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., blasted President Biden’s staff barbecue that took place at the White House on Sunday evening as Israel defends itself against Palestinian terrorist group Hamas attacks.
“To the president, turn off the barbecue and speak to the American people to be the leader the world is looking for,” McCarthy said Monday morning.
He also called for a “five-point plan” for the federal government to support Israel in its defense, with first priority locating and identifying American hostages and freezing the $6 billion released to Iran in exchange for American prisoners.
“This administration must also make clear that harming any American will result in the wrath of the United States,” the California Republican said. “We cannot repeat what happened in Afghanistan. It must be clear that we do not negotiate with terrorists and no American will be left behind.”
McCarthy held a press conference on Monday amid the House’s fight for a new speaker as well as the opening days of the bloody war in Israel.
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In response to McCarthy’s dig, the White House said in a statement to Fox News: “President Biden has been consistently engaged in supporting Israel as they defend themselves against these brutal terrorist attacks. Yesterday, after another call with Prime Minister Netanyahu and ordering the American military to provide aid to the IDF to ensure they have what they need, the President held a long-scheduled event to thank the hardworking non-political staff who keep the White House running – operating the kitchens, cleaning the White House, and helping keep the complex safe. This date was chosen because there were not White House activities that would require their work and they could bring their families. They deserve recognition, and no small, petty comments from partisan media or elected officials change that.”
The former speaker also called for the U.S. to “confront Iran” and “resupply Israel” while he condemned progressive members in the House: Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., indirectly for their controversial statements about Israel.
“As speaker, I watched a number on the other side of the aisle tried to reserve a building in here to celebrate anti-Semitism,” McCarthy said of Tlaib.
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He added about Omar, “I removed a member from Foreign Affairs based upon anti-Semitism.”
As the House speakership remains vacant, McCarthy jabbed at the eight House GOP members who voted to oust him from the post last week, along with 208 House Democrats, saying they “made the same political decision instead of putting America first.”
“Unfortunately, the House can do nothing,” he said, but he also didn’t rule out running for speaker again, adding he would do “whatever the House wants.”
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The former speaker’s press conference comes as the House GOP fights to determine the next speaker of the House as the U.S.’s most steadfast ally in the Middle East fights a surprise war.
McCarthy was ousted as speaker of the House last week in a historic first after Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., led a mutiny against him with seven other Republicans.
The former speaker has not taken the setback sitting down, opting to remain in his congressional seat and even entertaining the idea floated by other members for him to retake the gavel.
This, though, would be an uphill battle for McCarthy as the House GOP conference splits between two candidates for the gavel and some Republican lawmakers call for an expedited speaker election amid the war in Israel.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, are jockeying to take the gavel and succeed McCarthy in the speakership.
However, a potential return for McCarthy should not be written off – especially as moderates float the idea he return to the big chair.