Republican Rep. Mike Bost screams at Matt Gaetz on House floor for trashing Kevin McCarthy
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
- The House voted for speaker for the 12th time, with Republicans far from unified behind a candidate.
- Matt Gaetz nominated Jim Jordan again, trashing McCarthy's bid as a vanity project.
- GOP Rep. Mike Bost, a McCarthy supporter, rose from his chair and began screaming at Gaetz.
Tensions rose among Republicans in the House chamber as lawmakers began their 12th vote for speaker of the House.
Republican Rep.-elect Matt Gaetz of Florida rose to nominate Republican Rep.-elect Jim Jordan of Ohio to be speaker of the House. Jordan, set to be the next chair of the House Judiciary Committee, is not seeking the position and supports Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.
As Gaetz gave his speech, he trashed McCarthy's campaign — which has taken a historic 11 votes to sort out over the last three days — as a vanity project.
"Mr. McCarthy doesn't have the votes today, he will not have the votes tomorrow, and he will not have the votes next week, next month, next year," said Gaetz. "And so one must wonder, Madam Clerk, is this an exercise in vanity?"
As Gaetz continued speaking, fellow Republican Rep.-elect Mike Bost of Illinois rose and began screaming at him.
"This is not going to bring anyone," Bost could be heard saying before other members began to call for order, and House Clerk Cheryl Johnson began banging the gavel.
"Members are reminded not to engage in personalities against other members of the House," said Johnson once the yelling had quieted down.
—CSPAN (@cspan) January 6, 2023
Some Republicans walked out of the chamber as Gaetz continued speaking.
Bost, first elected to the House in 2014, had a reputation for angry outbursts when he served in the Illinois House of Representatives.
"Enough! I feel like somebody trying to be released from Egypt! Let my people go!" he yelled during a debate about pension reforms in 2012. "These damn bills that come out of here all the damn time come out here at the last second and I've got to try figure out how to vote for my people!"
At publication time, a 12th ballot was underway.
Bost's office didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.