WASHINGTON — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Tuesday he does not know if former President Donald Trump would be the “strongest” Republican candidate to challenge President Joe Biden in the race for the White House next year.
While McCarthy said during an interview with CNBC that he believes Trump can defeat Biden in the 2024 presidential election, he also expressed some doubt that the former president would be the best contender to win back the White House for the Republican Party.
“Can Trump beat Biden? Yeah, he can beat Biden,” McCarthy said. “Is he the strongest to win the election? I don’t know that answer.”
McCarthy’s comments came after he was asked whether it would be a good thing for the Republican Party if Trump − who is currently facing two indictments − is selected as the GOP nominee in the 2024 general election.
McCarthy, a close Trump ally, argued that in terms of “sheer policy to policy,” Trump would be better for the United States than Biden.
“Trump’s policies are better, straightforward than Biden’s policies,” he said.
Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury earlier this month on charges related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents. The former president pleaded not guilty to 37 charges in federal court in Miami.
McCarthy has recently shown support for Trump. For example, he signaled he would support a symbolic resolution to expunge the former president’s two impeachments from the House record.
Some of the candidates challenging Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination have claimed that a Trump victory would be harmful to the Republican Party.
Former Rep. Will Hurd of Texas, the latest candidate to enter the 2024 race, said in an interview last week that he would not support Trump if he was the eventual Republican nominee.
McCarthy has not endorsed a candidate in the 2024 Republican primary. USA TODAY has reached out to McCarthy’s office for comment.
