CNN "The Lead" - TRANSCRIPT Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) Is Interviewed About Speaker Vote; Now: House Taking 10th Speaker Vote As McCarthy's Path Uncertain; Kevin McCarthy Loses Speakership Bid On Third Day As Votes Tally Climbs To 11. Aired 5-6p ET

Interview

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Joining us now, Republican from Florida, Mike Waltz, who has voted for Kevin McCarthy on all nine ballots.

Congressman Waltz, I assume you're going to vote for him for a 10th time eminently while you're in the W.C. you got some time. Are you getting frustrated?

REP. MICHAEL WALTZ (R-FL): Oh, yes, I'm frustrated, Jake. I'll be honest with you. I mean, just today I was supposed to get a classified briefing on China's space program. We were supposed to go over how the Pentagon was going to lift its maccine (ph) -- I mean, its vaccine mandate. So, there are all kinds of things we should be doing. We should have had a China Select Committee by yesterday.

Two days ago, we had a bill to defund the 87,000 IRS agents that are going to go after the middle class. So, there is so much work to be done that were elected to do. A lot of negotiations have happened, and -- but we can't get a clear pathway to 218 and get to work. I'm ready to get to work.

TAPPER: How many ballots do you think this is going go to? I'm sure you've been reading up on the history as the rest of us have.

[17:10:04]

WALTZ: Sure.

TAPPER: 1856 just went to 133 ballots. It took two months. I guess my question is, is it possible that there will be some consensus candidate that with mainstream Republicans -- main street, rather, Republicans working with Democrats to come up with a consensus candidate? Or what Congressman Mike McCall referred to as the nuclear option, which is changing the rules to only make it a plurality required, not a 218 vote majority. I mean, do you think it's actually going to come to that?

WALTZ: Yes. Look, that's not something I would support, Jake. That's not what were elected to do. We were elected to put a conservative agenda in place, and we are elected to stop Biden's agenda that we campaigned on is bad for the country from the out of control border to out of control inflation to the rise of crime. We've gone from the Abraham Accords to the worst withdrawal in Afghanistan or the worst debacle since Saigon.

So -- and I personally, as you know, want accountability for those 13 Gold Star families. So, look, there has been some outreach, I understand, from Democrats to try to cut some kind of deal. But there are those of us conservatives who want to govern as conservatives.

And if, you know -- look, we've got to change some rules. I think a lot of the rule changes that we've made, particularly since Speaker Pelosi has been in place, where we can't have $1.7 trillion go into the speaker's office and pop out without any ability to amend it or debate it or have input, we've made those changes. So at this point, I'm optimistic we're going to get to a framework that we're going to get to a deal. We're going to get in 218 for -- or something lower than that of some vote present for McCarthy, and we're going to move forward.

TAPPER: Have you been talking to any of the 20 holdouts? It seems to me that there are different schools. You know, you have the Chip Roys who want those rules changes that you've been talking about, although I don't know what more there is for Kevin McCarthy to give up. It seems like he's giving quite a bit. But then there's also your fellow Florida Republican Matt Gaetz who -- his issue is he seems to just loathe Kevin McCarthy, and he'll never vote for him, and he'll lead as many people to oppose him as possible.

WALTZ: Yes, look, I think there are those that still want some additional changes. You're right, we've made a lot. This process didn't start this week, it started months ago. A lot of those changes, again, have been very positive, and I support them.

There are those who want some additional changes, but there are definitely those that this is personal about him. And I don't feel that we bring personal agendas or animosities into this. We figure out a way to govern as we are elected to do in a Republican majority.

TAPPER: And let me just note for our viewers who are watching the board next to you, Congressman, that Kevin McCarthy is now on his way to lose his 10th vote with six House Republicans voting against him for either Congressman Kevin Hern or Congressman Byron Donalds. He can only afford to lose four, as we've been saying, for the last three days.

WALTZ: Yes.

TAPPER: So, he looks like he's headed for a defeat.

You talked about a conservative agenda. You talked about the fact that some of these individuals seem very personally opposed to Kevin McCarthy. We heard earlier today Congressman Ken Buck who has been voting alongside you for Kevin McCarthy nine times in a row, saying that if McCarthy is not able to do this, it may soon be time to introduce Steve Scalise as the nominee for speaker of the House. I know that's not what you want. I know that's not your first choice, but could Steve Scalise theoretically get 218 votes?

WALTZ: You know, I mean, we also heard that with -- we've seen Andy Biggs introduced, Jim Jordan introduced, you know, Byron Donalds, now Kevin Hern, you know, my view -- we have moderates too. We have moderates that won over Biden districts, they have a say as well. And you need someone who can span all of that. I think the world of all of those individuals, actually. But at the end of the day, you have to win over the entire conference, as you know with only four to spare. And I think you could start seeing some moderates backing away from this process. I think Kevin McCarthy spans the spectrum, and we'll get him there.

TAPPER: What do you mean moderates might walk back away from the process? What do you mean by that?

WALTZ: Well, they're incredibly frustrated, and if you go to an alternative that is so conservative they don't believe it reflects their district and the reasons that they were voted to come in, then you have a problem on the other end of the spectrum. So, you know, at the end of the day, you need someone who can capture the entire conference, and I think McCarthy has shown that he can do that. We've gained seats since he's been in charge both last cycle and this cycle. And you know, at the end of the day, we need to move forward and govern.

[17:15: 13]

TAPPER: What is it like when you see Congressman Matt Gaetz? I'm just wondering, like do you say, hey, Matt? Or are you mad at him? I mean, this is obviously very frustrating. You've known him for several years.

WALTZ: Yes.

TAPPER: You're a Florida Republican.

WALTZ: Sure.

TAPPER: You probably vote the same 99 percent of the time. I mean, is there real anger in the caucus right now, in the conference?

WALTZ: You know, Matt and I work together on the Armed Services Committee. We're working to expose the politicization of the military. We actually work on things for our districts and for Florida. Our delegation comes together quite well when it comes to Florida issues.

But can we have disagreements? Can we share our frustrations? Can, you know, mask them to articulate a path forward and have those tough conversations? Sure. I mean, that's -- you know, you ask what it's like, those are the conversations we're having.

TAPPER: Yes, I'd love to hear what those quotes are. Maybe you can tell me on text.

All right, Congressman Mike Waltz from Florida, thank you so much. Good to see you as always.

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