McCarthy Hits GOP Colleagues Who Voted to Remove Him, Specifically Targets Nancy Mace for ‘Flip-Flopping’

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on Thursday spoke out against members of his own party in the House who voted to oust him last month, taking aim mostly at Rep. Nancy Mace, R-Ga., and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who led the effort to remove him, in an interview to CNN set to air in full on Sunday.

Eight Republicans voted to remove McCarthy from his office, including Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett, who, along with Mace, surprised the former Speaker by following Gaetz's lead.

In response, Burchett said the former Speaker is "angry and I’m sure he’ll be angry for the rest of his life."

McCarthy said he did not believe Mace, who is up for reelection next year, has earned a third term.

“If you’ve watched her, just her philosophy, and the flip-flopping, I don’t believe she wins reelection,” the former Speaker said to CNN.

He also took the opportunity to criticize Gaetz, saying the House would benefit if he was no longer a member.

“People have to earn the right to be here. ... I mean he’ll admit to you personally. He doesn’t have a conservative bent in his philosophy,” McCarthy said.

Gaetz responded by sending, "Thoughts and prayers to the former speaker as he works through his grief."

Mace also responded, calling McCarthy "a guy who lied all the time, like every day."

"We’ve moved on to a much better speaker who’s honest and trustworthy and is going to tell the truth,” Mace told CNN.