Inside Kevin McCarthy’s secret promise to expunge Trump’s record

Given the speaker’s tenuous position with Donald Trump allies in the House and the threat of his ouster looming over every move, Speaker Kevin McCarthy has no real option but to bow to the former president’s whims. | Francis Chung/POLITICO

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After House Speaker Kevin McCarthy suggested on national television last month that Donald Trump may not be the GOP’s best presidential nominee in 2024, the former president was furious — and wanted the California Republican to rectify the slight immediately.

“He needs to endorse me — today!” Trump fumed to his staff on his way to a campaign event in New Hampshire, according to people familiar with what happened. McCarthy, after all, had indicated to Trump’s team that he would do so eventually. Why not clean up the mess and announce his support now?

But the House GOP leader — who has felt compelled to stay neutral during the primary so as to not box in his own members — wasn’t ready to do that. To calm Trump,

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