CNN put together a montage of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and his changing comments on the 2020 presidential election and former President Donald Trump over the past several months.
CNN’s “New Day” aired a montage of what it calls “McCarthy’s head-spinning 6 months,” per the chyron.
“Trump’s stronghold on the party is no more evident than with someone like McCarthy,” co-anchor Brianna Keilar said. “From a pusher of the big lie to a denouncer of the insurrection to a downplayer of the insurrection. Here’s how the head-spinning, bumper car evolution has played out since the election.”
Watch the video below:
Here’s a look at how House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s comments on President Trump have changed in the last six months. pic.twitter.com/cxuAzpjIht
— CNN This Morning with Kasie Hunt (@CNNThisMorning) May 3, 2021
The montage began with McCarthy’s remarks on Fox News on November 5 where he said, “They didn’t defeat one Republican incumbent and they lost 15, and President Trump won this election, so everyone who’s listening, do not be quiet.”
On December 10, the House minority leader noted that Trump “has to make sure that every legal vote is counted, that every recount is done and make sure every complaint are being heard inside the court.”
McCarthy called for “integrity” in the elections on January 2 and questioned “what would be wrong with an audit.”
Following the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, McCarthy said on January 13 that Trump “bears responsibility” for the insurrection and suggested Trump should have “immediately denounced the mob.” McCarthy later said he did not believe Trump “provoked.” On January 28, McCarthy and Trump were photographed together.
McCarthy later said he thought Trump should speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference. The montage continued to show several clips of McCarthy’s remarks about the topics.
“That was all one guy,” CNN’s John Berman said after the montage played, adding, “It’s noteworthy that that Kevin McCarthy dodged that last particular answer.”