Trump’s clout takes hit from Speaker’s fight

President Trump’s political clout has taken another serious hit, as Republicans opposed to Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s Speakership bid ignore his pleas to back the California Republican.

It’s just the latest sign that Trump’s once-iron grip on his party is weakening, a reality that raises questions about his 2024 presidential bid while giving rivals more confidence they can defeat him in a primary.

Conservative Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) said on the House floor on Wednesday that Trump needed to tell McCarthy to withdraw from the contest, while Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said it was “sad” that the former president supported McCarthy.