United States: Mr. Kevin McCarthy has been chosen as the new Speaker of the US House of Representatives following contentious arguments that nearly resulted in violent confrontations between Republicans.

It took Mr. McCarthy 15 rounds of voting to gain the position despite his party having a majority in the parliament. The dramatic pressure campaign to get party rebel Mr. Matt Gaetz to vote for Mr. McCarthy took place live on the House floor before it happened.

I hope one thing is clear after this week: I will never give up. And I will never give up for you, the American people. https://t.co/uLqPKa1maZ

— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) January 7, 2023

The House was finally allowed to swear in freshly elected legislators who had been waiting all week for the chamber to officially open and the 2023–24 session to start after Mr. McCarthy took the oath of office. Republican Mr. Matt Gaetz, who was seated with Ms. Lauren Boebert and other dissenters, was confronted by Mr. McCarthy as he made his way to the back of the room. There were accusations made and words spoken, but it appears that violence was only avoided.

Republican Rep. Mr. Mike Rogers of Alabama shouted and tried to approach Mr. Gaetz at one point, but another Republican, Mr. Richard Hudson, pushed him away. Republicans have attempted to force significant spending cuts over the course of the last nine years by repeatedly shutting down large swaths of the government and bringing the biggest borrower in history dangerously close to default.

The readiness of Mr. McCarthy to play such a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with President Mr. Joe Biden, whose Democrats control the Senate, has been questioned by a number of the hardliners.

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