Gaetz insists he’s serious about McCarthy amid criticism of ’empty threats’

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is insisting on social media that he will follow through on threats to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

Gaetz has been engaging with news personalities and Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell (Calif.) over the past few days, insisting he’s serious about his threats.

Gaetz initially responded to criticism from “Fox & Friends” host Brian Kilmeade, who said the congressman was “speaking into the wind” over threatening to oust McCarthy if a vote to open an impeachment inquiry into President Biden is not held.

Gaetz responded to the video clip of Kilmeade on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday to push back on the host’s comments.

Swalwell then posted on X that he’d never seen a colleague make more “empty threats” than Gaetz.

“I’ve never seen a colleague make more empty threats — day in/day out than this guy. Gaetz folded like a cheap card table to make McCarthy speaker and will never — I repeat never — make a motion to remove McCarthy. I do not work with serious people,” Swalwell wrote.

Gaetz later reposted Swalwell’s comments Sunday with the caption, “Bookmark this tweet,” insisting he was ready to move against McCarthy. He also asked Swalwell how many Democrat votes he could deliver if he makes a motion to remove McCarthy.

“Are all Democrats so willing, @ericswalwell? Will my NorCal twitter troll have the courage and efficacy to become my dem whip?? If I’ll work with @aoc to ban congressional stock trading I’ll absolutely work with @ericswalwell to rid the House of ineffective leadership,” Gaetz posted on X.

“How many votes can you deliver against a Motion to Table a Motion to Vacate, eric? Asking for (many) friends!” he added.

Gaetz said last week he wants to pursue an impeachment inquiry into Biden over issues related to his family’s foreign business dealings when he was vice president and will not let McCarthy stand in his way.

“That means forcing votes on impeachment. And if Speaker McCarthy stands in our way, he may not have the job long,” Gaetz told conservative radio host Todd Starnes.