Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Defends Giving Matt Gaetz the Power to Oust Him: ‘You Don’t Have That Choice’

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on Sunday defended his decision earlier this year to grant any single House member the ability to force a floor vote that would ultimately lead to his ouster, saying it was a necessary part of the concessions he made to become speaker.

"You don't have that choice," the former House speaker said when asked during an interview with NBC's 'Meet the Press' if he regretted the rule change.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., later seized the opportunity to try to oust McCarthy from the speakership, after eight Republicans joined with Democrats in a vote to remove him.

"You have 218 votes to pass a rule," McCarthy added. "[Democrats] wouldn't help at that time, so I believed that moving forward is the best."

One common complaint cited by those who voted to remove McCarthy was that the California Republican worked with Democrats to reach a deal on federal spending that temporarily averted a government shutdown.

McCarthy said he doesn't regret that choice.

"I would do the exact same thing again," McCarthy said. "Keeping the government open was the right thing to do."

Republicans are now scrambling to identify a new House leader after both Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Steve Scalise, R-La., abandoned their bids after lacking the requisite number of floor votes. McCarthy most recently endorsed House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn. for the role to replace him.

"This is not a time to play games," McCarthy said. "This is embarrassing for the Republican party."

Emmer is competing against six other candidates who have so far announced their intentions to run for the job as the House approaches three weeks without a leader. Members of the caucus have until noon Sunday to declare their speakership candidacies. The GOP is planning a Monday night candidate forum and a vote on Tuesday morning inside the conference.