Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy warns the Biden administration to be "concerned" following Donald Trump's massive rally in New Jersey, which drew an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 supporters. McCarthy believes the rally highlights Trump's continued influence and could have implications for the November midterm elections.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has sent a warning to the Biden administration, urging them to be "concerned" following Donald Trump's massive rally in New Jersey. The rally, which drew an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 supporters, is being hailed as the largest political rally in the state's history.
McCarthy, who appeared on "Sunday Morning Futures" to discuss the rally, noted its unprecedented size and enthusiasm. He argued that President Biden would be hard-pressed to attract a similar crowd in heavily Democratic states like New York or California.
"That was extraordinary," McCarthy said. "New Jersey [is] not a place that people think Republicans would ever compete, but the size of the crowd…could President Biden get that crowd in the heart of New York or in the most Democrat state? Could he do it in California? The answer is no."
McCarthy also criticized Biden's handling of the war in the Middle East and his campaign rhetoric. He suggested that Biden's public appearances have been counterproductive, as he often makes gaffes or says things that later have to be walked back.
"The other thing that we're hearing coming out of the White House itself is… President Biden needs to campaign less, talk less, because he gets in trouble while doing it," McCarthy said. "This is President Trump showing no matter what they throw at him, he's going to fight back. He's going to lead this nation on the issues they care most about."
Trump himself expressed confidence at the rally, predicting that he would win New Jersey in November. He also declared that he would win "all across America," with millions of people in so-called blue states joining his movement.
Attendees at the rally echoed Trump's optimism, arguing that the Garden State could be up for grabs this election cycle. They cited border security and the economy as their top priorities.
McCarthy noted the growing support for Trump among independent voters, 53% of whom believe a second term of the Biden administration would be a greater harm to democracy. He attributed this to the perception that Trump is being persecuted politically.
"You had an interesting statistic up there about independent voters," McCarthy said. "There was another poll out there that showed independent voters…by 53%…believed a second term of the Biden administration would be a greater harm to democracy. Because all of this is backfiring, this persecution of President Trump… going after him because of politics. No one in America believes President Trump would be in a trial today if he was not running for president."
McCarthy emphasized the need for Republicans to unify ahead of the midterm elections, a message that echoed the remarks of House Speaker Mike Johnson, who successfully survived an effort by Rep. Marjoie Taylor Greene to oust him over his handling of government funding and foreign aid.
"When you stick together, there's nothing you cannot achieve. Don't play into the hands of Democrats," McCarthy said. "I opposed when eight Republicans joined all the Democrats to do a motion to vacate, and I oppose it when more Republicans today do it. It is wrong and let's bound together. Stick on the issues of what Americans care most about: the border, inflation, American foreign policy, making our parents have a say in their kids' education, bringing down the price of fuel, making sure that government is not dictating, and this weaponization of government."
Despite the failed attempt to unseat Johnson, Greene doubled down on her criticism, accusing him of being "owned by the Democrats." She pointed to the support of House Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Jerry Nadler for Johnson as evidence of his political allegiance.
"It wasn't Republicans that saved Mike Johnson. It was Democrats that saved Mike Johnson," Greene said. "And when you have Nancy Pelosi, who was speaker of the House when they impeached President Trump twice, and you have Jerry Nadler, who was chairman of the Judiciary Committee that led the impeachment against President Trump, voting to save Mike Johnson, that tells the American people everything that they need to know."
"Mike Johnson is owned by the Democrats and refuses to protect President Trump, even though he runs down to Mar-a-Lago every chance he gets and hugs him as tightly as possible," she continued.
The implications of Trump's New Jersey rally and the ongoing political divisions within the Republican Party remain uncertain. However, McCarthy's warning to the Biden administration suggests that Trump's influence and support base are far from diminished. The midterm elections in November will provide a critical test of the Republican Party's strength and the extent to which Trump's sway over the conservative electorate remains intact.
