Back in December Trump told Breitbart News that he backed Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House and that he disagreed with the members who were opposing McCarthy.
He essentially told them to ‘stand down’ and vote for McCarthy:
Former President Donald Trump told the conservatives currently withholding support from House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy in McCarthy’s speakership bid to stand down in an exclusive interview with Breitbart News here on Friday.
“I like him,” Trump said of McCarthy, before teeing off on those working against him such as Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Matt Rosendale (R-MT), Bob Good (R-VA), and Ralph Norman (R-SC). While Trump did not name those trying to stop McCarthy from taking the Speaker’s gavel on January 3, he in no uncertain terms said he disagrees with their efforts—and warned that there could be serious consequences if McCarthy does not get the gavel and they could make Washington worse for conservatives.
Fast forward to today when, after three rounds of voting, McCarthy still hasn’t won the speakership.
Trump was asked by an NBC reporter if he still supports McCarthy for Speaker and Trump didn’t sound all that enthusiastic:
EXCLUSIVE: Former President Trump declined to say if he's sticking by his endorsement of Kevin McCarthy for speaker tonight, telling me in a brief phone interview he's had calls all day asking for support, and "We'll see what happens. We'll see how it all works out."
— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) January 3, 2023
When I asked directly if he was sticking by McCarthy, who did not clinch the gavel today after three floor votes, Mr. Trump told me "we'll see what happens," and ended our conversation.
— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) January 3, 2023
This is the same Trump who attacked Gov DeSantis for not being ‘loyal’ to him when he was asked about running in 2024. Remember, DeSantis refused to even comment on 2024 and that upset Trump because he wanted DeSantis to say he’d never challenge him for the nomination.
Now to be clear, Trump hasn’t dumped McCarthy yet. But it sounds like he’s having serious reservations if all he can say is ‘we’ll see what happens’ when asked if he still backs McCarthy.