‘I Don’t Have To Agree’: Byron Donalds Shoots Down Fox Host On Question Over Gaetz-McCarthy Debacle

Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds shot down Fox News’ Bill Hemmer on Wednesday after Hemmer pressed him on Matt Gaetz’s successful bid to oust Kevin McCarthy from the speaker chair.

Gaetz filed a motion to vacate the chair on Monday, garnering the support of Democrats. A motion to table the vote failed after 11 Republicans voted against it, and the actual motion to vacate was 216-210.

Hemmer asked Donalds, “So you respect what Matt Gaetz did then, is that right?”

WATCH:

“No, I don’t, I actually disagreed with it and I told Matt that I don’t agree with this, we should not be doing this, we should be focused on funding the government, working through our appropriations bill and securing the nation’s border. That’s what we should be focused on. I think for all my Republican colleagues trying to figure out where we go next, security of our southern border is of utmost paramount and we got to get back to work as quickly as we can to figure out how to fund the government.” (RELATED: GOP Rep Appears To Purposely Shove Himself Into Gaetz After McCarthy Vote)

“But you said every member has a voice and that’s important and then you said you don’t respect what Gaetz did,” Hemmer said. “How do you square the two?”

“Bill, I don’t have to agree with a member even though I do respect every member’s voice. They represent people in their district just like I represent people in mine. I think the – one thing that has come out of this: the days of just top down leadership in Washington I believe those days are over. But this is not going to be the prettiest picture for everybody to see what democracy, the republic as it stands is what will flourish going forward. I may not agree with the tactical decision but I respect every member’s ability to do it.”

Republican Reps. Bob Good, Tim Burchett, Eli Crane, Matt Rosendale, Andy Biggs, Ken Buck and Nancy Mace joined Gaetz to vacate the chair.