Time - USA (2022-06-06)

As the leader of the House
Republicans and per-
haps the chamber’s next
Speaker, Kevin McCarthy
has among the most im-
possible jobs in Washing-
ton: guiding his party to
this fall’s midterm elec-
tions while also navigating
former President Donald
Trump’s near total hold on
the GOP.
That’s not to say his
critics don’t have valid fod-
der, starting with McCar-
thy’s complete climbdown
from initially suggesting
Trump resign in the wake
of a failed insurrection and
his subsequent supplica-
tion to the former Presi-
dent that continues to this
day. But McCarthy’s fe-
altytoTrumpreflectsthe

invitation to make mean-

ingful contributions, but

driving it back to a major-

ity typically opens plenty of

opportunities. Republicans

may soon be back with gav-

elsandaskingthemselves

broader attitude inside the

current Republican Party.

As such, McCarthy is the

former President’s most

powerful proxy.

Leading a political

minorityisseldoman

if McCarthy is the best

choice to run the House for

the final two years of Joe

Biden’s first term.

Elliott is a TIME senior

Washingtoncorrespondent

Kevin

McCarthy

Guiding the

congressional GOP

BY PHILIP ELLIOTT