Kevin McCarthy credits Donald Trump for winning House speaker

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Rep. specified. Kevin McCarthy defeated former President Trump on Saturday morning in his 11th-hour election as House Speaker.

“I especially want to thank President Trump. I don’t think anyone should doubt his influence. He’s been with me from the beginning. And he’s everything. He’ll call me and he’ll call others,” McCarthy told CNN on 2 a.m

“And he really – I was just talking to him tonight – helped get the last votes. And what he really says is for the party and the country, that we have to come together. We have to focus on the economy, ” he continued. “We’ve got to focus, secure our border. We’ve got a lot of work to do, and he’s been a great influence to get all of that done. So, thank you, President Trump.

Rep. said. McCarthy that Trump is “helping to get those last votes.”Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images “I want to thank President Trump in particular. I don’t think anyone should doubt his influence, said by McCarthy.Matt Rourke/AP

Trump threw his support behind McCarthy early in the race and many of Trump’s closest allies, such as Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, were members of the House Freedom Caucus who led the charge against McCarthy. As the poll continues, it’s more a referendum on how much influence the former president can still command from rank-and-file GOP lawmakers.

In the final rounds of voting on Friday, Trump called lobbying the remaining holdouts to drop their objections.

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