Kevin McCarthy says "you might see a much different Trump" in coming term

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Wednesday greeting that President-elect Donald Trump whitethorn beryllium "different" successful a 2nd term, noting that he now knows nan occupation and won't beryllium seeking reelection. 

"So you mightiness spot a overmuch different Trump," McCarthy said connected "CBS Mornings" erstwhile asked astir Trump's expertise to merge nan state arsenic president.

Hours aft Trump was projected to win nan 2024 statesmanlike title amid a starkly divided electorate, McCarthy urged Democrats that Trump "is not specified a hardened person, philosophically, successful a difficult correct position."

"He has positions that are unique, that would spell to nan middle," McCarthy continued. "People get a Trump syndrome wherever they conscionable don't moreover want to activity pinch him, and he'll get his backmost up, and past if you conflict him, he'll conflict you. But I deliberation if you spell to him, he's astir apt much consenting to spell to immoderate definite positions."

McCarthy, a Republican who represented California successful nan House and was ousted from nan speakership successful 2023, dismissed interest expressed by officials who worked successful Trump's first management that nan president-elect is unfit for agency — aliases poses a threat.

"Remember, we're America. We don't person dictators," McCarthy said. "We person different branches of government. So we person a cheque and equilibrium system."

McCarthy, who noted that he doesn't want a domiciled successful Trump's management and is "better to service him from nan outside," said he was eager to spot a statesmanlike campaigner triumph nan celebrated ballot and electoral assemblage this year, arguing it would beryllium amended for nan country.

"We've sewage to put this to rest, and we've sewage to beryllium capable to govern," McCarthy said. "That's what I deliberation nan state connected some sides wants to see."

The erstwhile speaker encouraged Democrats to "take this opportunity to rebuild their party," which he said is conscionable for illustration "rebuilding a team." The first point Democrats should do, he argued, is to look honestly astatine why Harris lost. 

McCarthy questioned whether it Democrats made correct determination for President Biden to time off nan race. He said that though he doesn't deliberation Mr. Biden would person yet won, nan determination "changed populist successful a mode that you didn't springiness group a voice." He based on that Democrats apt wouldn't person picked Harris successful an unfastened superior process. 

"They astir apt would person had a stronger candidate," McCarthy said. 

In:
• Kevin McCarthy