Business Insider: “Some Trump advisors this week used the Cheney-Trump feud as an opportunity to cast doubt on McCarthy rising to become the next House speaker. They are pointing out how McCarthy fell short when he first tried to win the job in 2015 before withdrawing and clearing a path for the Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan. And they routinely note Trump doesn’t like to associate himself with losers, even though he lost his last election. One advisor said they recently told the former president that the California congressman appeared unlikely to secure enough votes from his fellow House Republicans should they take back control of the chamber in the 2022 midterm elections. ‘He’s left too many people unhappy and unsettled and time is not on his side,’ the Trump advisor who shared their opinion about McCarthy with the former president said.”

“‘The fringes of Trumpworld may try to drive a wedge as Kevin nears the speaker’s gavel, but the best thing he can do is keep winning,’ one GOP operative said. But other Republicans interviewed for this story said McCarthy wasn’t a shoo-in for the job just because of where he sits now as the House minority leader. One former House GOP leadership aide said McCarthy enjoys front-runner status to succeed Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should Republicans win the majority. But this person added that any flash of weakness from McCarthy between now and 2022 could prompt frenemies to pounce. ‘If he stumbles at all around the next election, it could open things up for someone like Jim Jordan,’ the former GOP aide said, referring to the Ohio Republican and rabid Trump defender who played spoiler and undermined McCarthy’s first bid for the speaker’s gavel.”