Kevin McCarthy’s downfall reportedly included a blow-up with former President Donald Trump, who he blamed for not calling off a faction of House conservatives including Matt Gaetz bent on his ouster.
The California congressman’s tenure as speaker of the House lasted less than one full year; a grinding election process ended up being a prelude to a weak, ineffective leader failing to maintain trust among his party’s right wing and facing the axe after cutting a deal with Democrats to keep the government funded.
