Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told guests at the Hill Nation Summit in Washington, D.C., that he was enjoying his “fabulous” post-congressional life.
He’s also thankful he no longer has to deal with former Rep. Matt Gaetz.
“We don’t have Matt Gaetz anymore,” McCarthy mused, the audience laughing at the remark. Gaetz left the House in November after winning reelection, as President Donald Trump nominated him as his attorney general. Extensive controversy ensued over the political firebrand until he withdrew his name from consideration.
“The party is so much stronger now,” McCarthy added before comparing Trump to President Ronald Reagan for having “transformed where America is in this world.”
WATCH: Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said post-congressional life was “fabulous. We don’t have Matt Gaetz anymore.” https://t.co/TmwM5B7H5R pic.twitter.com/6aBZGZMufY
— The Hill (@thehill) July 16, 2025
Gaetz and McCarthy have a long-running feud, which peaked when Gaetz helped oust him as speaker in October 2023. Since then, they’ve continued their feud. Another notable incident happened when Gaetz confronted McCarthy at the Republican National Convention last year. Gaetz asked if McCarthy was speaking. He added that if he did, he would “get booed off the stage.”
Gaetz, who now has a show on One America News Network, responded to McCarthy’s quip Wednesday on X. “This is so sad, Kevin. Get help. Move on. You don’t have to always be thinking about me,” he said.
McCarthy also said at the summit that Trump has a coalition comprising the “new Republican Party,” which could answer voters’ frustrations.
“I understand people’s frustration with things not getting solved, but now is a different opportunity,” McCarthy said.
“Trump has put a coalition together that’s rather unique. Anybody else that thinks about doing some other party, I think that would only help the Democrats win an election,” he added.
GOP MUST SHOWCASE HOW ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ MAKES LIFE ‘BETTER’ AHEAD OF 2026 MIDTERMS: MCCARTHY
McCarthy said last week that the Republican Party should show voters how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act improves voters’ lives before the 2026 midterm elections.
“If you didn’t pass it, everybody’s taxes would go up. So they’re keeping them the same. So show them they secured the border. Show them they’re bringing their energy costs down. Show them they’re making the average American’s life better,” McCarthy told Fox News.