In the Quaker denomination, they have a term: “bloody-minded objector.” Because the Society of Friends requires consensus on all matters concerning their meetings, they make exceptions for those who are needlessly gumming up the works for personal or wrongheaded reasons. Today, Florida Man Representative Matt Gaetz is leading a band of twenty bloody-minded objectors who refuse to vote for Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House — and that’s not all. He and they are also making Donald Trump look like an absolute fool.
McCarthy and Trump have a good relationship and Trump has endorsed the GOP leader for the speakership. As a presidential candidate, Trump needs his endorsements to matter; he needs to show that he is still the leader of the MAGA cause. But if he can’t convince his most ardent supporters such as Gaetz, Lauren Boebert and Chip Roy to follow his lead on this small ask, then we need to ask: does he have any power left?
The case being made against McCarthy by the bloody-minded objectors is farcical. To almost every demand they have made of him, from rules changes to investigations, McCarthy has said yes — but they won’t take yes for answer. Why? A cynic might suggest that the slick-coiffed Gaetz is engaged in a power play, trying to steal the mantle of MAGA king from a weakened Trump.
For his part, on Wednesday morning, Trump reiterated his support for McCarthy on his Truth Social feed, saying, “VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY, & WATCH CRAZY NANCY PELOSI FLY BACK HOME” (the all-caps are the former president’s). He also indicated that productive conversations had taken place Tuesday night, presumably with Gaetz and his band of mischief-makers. Yet as of writing, they still have not relented — and even if they do, on the fourth, fifth, or hundredth vote, they have already made Trump look like a beggar. And that’s, to borrow a phrase, SAD!
Even if Trump does save the day for McCarthy, he comes across as diminished and weak. This isn’t Liz Cheney or Adam Kinzinger telling the Orange Man to sit on it: it’s the very politicians who are supposed to be in his camp. If he can’t control these denizens of Mar-a-Lago, then who can he control? Increasingly the answer seems to be nobody. Not a great look for a man trying to regain residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
It must also be noted that while Trump was flailing, trying to convince his own friends and allies to support him, his rival, Florida governor Ron DeSantis, was taking a victory lap during a Tuesday inauguration address, giving a speech that heralded his accomplishments and abilities. It was the very picture of power compared to Trump’s so-far failed efforts to bring twenty House members in line.
Make no mistake: this is a test and an important one for Trump. He is not a subtle politician; his success hinges on his ability to present an image of confidence, power and control. Right now he appears to have none of these things.
Why Matt Gaetz is kneecapping Trump, and defying his mentor Jim Jordan, whom Gaetz nominated for speaker against Jordan’s wishes, is an open question. Jordan doesn’t want to be saddled with the bureaucratic business of the speakership; he wants to run Investigations and Oversight — and Republican voters want that too.
At this point two things are certain: whether Gaetz relents or not, Trump looks bad, and if Gaetz relents, the retribution towards him will be harsh — and deservedly so. Maybe Trump pulls this off and we go on with the nation’s business, but this bell cannot be unrung. Who runs MAGA world today? Is it Trump or is it Gaetz? Only time will tell.
