The latest on the House speaker vote

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, one of a handful of House Republicans opposing Kevin McCarthy’s bid for House Speaker, has dismissed Donald Trump’s latest effort to help the California Republican as “sad.” 

Gaetz is a longtime Trump supporter and his refusal to bow to the former president’s desire for a McCarthy speakership raises new questions about Trump’s dwindling influence over Republicans in the midst of his third presidential campaign.

On Wednesday morning, Trump encouraged Republican holdouts to “vote for Kevin” and “close the deal” as 20 GOP lawmakers, including Gaetz, continue to oppose McCarthy, effectively freezing the speaker contest.

“If Matt Gaetz is ignoring you, that’s not a good sign,” said one Trump ally working on the 2024 campaign.

Trump has been making calls on McCarthy’s behalf over the last 24 hours in an attempt to break the conservative blockade against him, but his efforts have so far been fruitless, the ally added.

One lawmaker who spoke with Trump late Tuesday suggested the former president should run for speaker himself, according to a person briefed on the call. Trump demurred and continued to push this person to support McCarthy, claiming that he would be a solid “America First” supporter.