Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty; Alex Wong/Getty
PresidentJoe Bidenis offering his congratulations toRepublican Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who was elected House speaker early Saturday morning after 15 consecutive rounds of voting.
Shortly after the historic election — which marked thefirst time since 1923that nobody won the first go-around — Biden, 80, expressed his hope to work with those across the political aisle in aWhite House statement.
“Jill and I congratulate Kevin McCarthy on his election as Speaker of the House,” Biden wrote. “The American people expect their leaders to govern in a way that puts their needs above all else, and that is what we need to do now.”
“As I said after the midterms, I am prepared to work with Republicans when I can and voters made clear that they expect Republicans to be prepared to work with me as well,” he continued. “Now that the leadership of the House of Representatives has been decided it is time for that process to begin.”
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Kevin McCarthy.Anna Moneymaker/Getty
SucceedingNancy Pelosias speaker over the weekend, McCarthy, 57, was initially picked as the GOP’s nominee back in November. He continued to not secure enough votes 14 times despite the Republican Party having the majority in the house, as he faced opposition from more extreme members of the party who didn’t foresee him pushing their desired agenda forward.
After the first roll call, McCarthy only earned 203 votes, as 19 Republicans voted off script and as Democrats unanimously voted for Democratic House LeaderHakeem Jeffries.
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The roll call was repeatedagain and againuntil McCarthy took the majority, and eventually, Republicans voting in opposition of him fell from a high of 21 down to single digits.
“I hope one thing is clear after this week: I will never give up,“McCarthy saidafter the final vote early Saturday. “I will never give up for you, the American people. And I will never give up on keeping our Commitment to America.”
RELATED VIDEO: Kevin McCarthy Narrowly Elected New House Speaker After 15 Contentious Rounds of Voting
While the House speaker race waslocked in a stalematethis past week, Biden previouslycalledthe situation “a little embarrassing.”
But Biden wasn’t the only commander-in-chief to call the Republican infighting “embarrassing.”
Writing on his social media site Truth Social earlier in the week, former PresidentDonald Trumpurged Republicans not to “TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT,” adding: “VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL.”
source: people.com
