'Why aren't they fighting the Radical Left Democrats destroying our country:' Donald Trump tears into Republicans after Speaker McCarthy is ousted from seat by his OWN party rebels in historic vote

Ex-president Donald Trump weighed in to Rep. Kevin McCarthy's ousting as Speaker of the House in a Truth Social post in which he asked why Republicans aren't battling 'the Radical Left Democrats who are destroying our country?'

McCarthy was voted out of the job Tuesday in an extraordinary showdown — a first in U.S. history, forced by a contingent of hard-right conservatives and throwing the House and its Republican leadership into chaos. The charge to oust McCarthy was led by Florida congressman Rep. Matt Gaetz. 

'I have spoken to President Trump over the last several days,' Gaetz told reporters on the steps of the Capitol after the vote. 'I would say that my conversations with the former president leave me with great confidence that I'm doing the right thing.'

Trump publicly did not weigh in on the vote to remove McCarthy, with the former commander-in-chief tied up with legal trouble after his civil business fraud trial began in New York City this week. 

Former President Donald Trump has not weighed in on the ousting of Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker 

Rep. McCarthy, an ally of Trump's, has said that he will not run again for speaker

The pair are thought to have a good relationship with the California congressman having visited Trump in Mar-a-Lago since the former president left office. 

That came just after McCarthy had said that Trump was responsible for January 6th. Rep. Liz Cheney called McCarthy's decision to be publicly seen with Trump 'stunning' following the riot. 

In January 2023, Trump was thought to have been behind McCarthy's ascent to the role of speaker, which only came after an historic 15 rounds of voting.

McCarthy told lawmakers in the evening he would not run again for speaker, putting the gavel up for grabs. 

Next steps are highly uncertain with no obvious successor to lead the House Republican majority. Action is halted in the House until next week, when Republicans try to elect a new speaker.

'I may have lost this vote today, but as I walk out of this chamber I feel fortunate to have served,' McCarthy said at a press conference at the Capitol, alternating between upbeat assessment of his speakership and angry score-settling of those who ousted him. 

Still, he said, 'I wouldn't change a thing.' 

Gaetz, considered McCarthy's chief rival, orchestrated the rare vote on the obscure 'motion to vacate,' and pushed ahead swiftly into a dramatic afternoon roll call.

In January 2023, Trump was thought to have been behind McCarthy's ascent to the role of speaker, which only came after an historic 15 rounds of voting

Gaetz, considered McCarthy's chief rival, orchestrated the rare vote on the obscure 'motion to vacate,' and pushed ahead swiftly into a dramatic afternoon roll call.

While McCarthy enjoyed support from most Republicans in his slim majority, eight Republican detractors — many of the same hard-right holdouts who tried to stop him from becoming speaker in January — essentially forced him out.

Stillness fell as the presiding officer gaveled the vote closed, 216-210, saying the office of the speaker 'is hereby declared vacant.'

Moments later, a top McCarthy ally, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., took the gavel and, according to House rules, was named speaker pro tempore, to serve in the office until a new speaker is chosen.

The House then briskly recessed as lawmakers met privately to discuss the path forward.

Trump's former vice-president and Republican candidate for the Oval Office in 2024, Mike Pence, chastised those who voted McCarthy out. 

Pence was onstage at a national security and foreign policy event at Washington's Georgetown University co-hosted by The Associated Press when the news broke.

When told of the historic vote, Pence waited several seconds before he responded. He then described it as a distraction from the issues that matter to Americans.

'Well let me say that chaos is never America's friend. And it's never a friend of American families that are struggling,' he said. 'And I'm deeply disappointed that a handful of Republicans would partner with all the Democrats in the House of Representatives to out the Speaker of the House.' 

Pence faces an uphill fight for the nomination in a party that remains closely aligned with his old boss.