Trump endorses House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for reelection, calls him 'strong and fearless'

• Former President Trump on Saturday formally endorsed House Minority Leader McCarthy for reelection.
• In his announcement, the former president called the California lawmaker "strong and fearless."

Former President Donald Trump on Saturday formally endorsed House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for reelection in the lead-up to the November midterms, where Republicans are favored to make major gains and potentially regain control of the lower chamber.

Trump, in an announcement touting the formal endorsement, described the California Republican as "strong and fearless."

"In Congress, Kevin is a tireless advocate for the people of Bakersfield and the Central Valley. He is working incredibly hard to Stop Inflation, Deliver Water Solutions, and Hold Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi Accountable for their catastrophic failures and dereliction of duty," the former president wrote.

He added: "Kevin McCarthy has my Complete and Total Endorsement."

Trump's show of support comes on the heels of audio released by The New York Times in April, which revealed that the GOP leader had spoken to fellow lawmakers about potentially asking him to resign following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

During a January 10 conference call, McCarthy said that he considered relaying to the then-president that if he were to be impeached, then "it would be my recommendation you should resign."

Despite the audio, McCarthy has dismissed any notion that he would have pushed for Trump to leave office.

Shortly after the audio hit the public, Trump and McCarthy spoke on the phone, with The Washington Post reporting that the former president was pleased that the California lawmaker didn't follow through with pressing him to resign.

"I think it's all a big compliment, frankly," Trump later said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal regarding the initial post-January 6 thinking from some GOP leaders. "They realized they were wrong and supported me."

McCarthy will compete in a multicandidate primary on June 7.