an interview with the Wall Street Journal<\/a>, while signaling a public d\u00e9tente amid a burgeoning controversy over leaked audio of Kevin McCarthy\u2019s comments in the days after the insurrection, nevertheless put daylight between Trump and the House minority leader, who in a leaked Republican conference call said the former president told him he accepted some responsibility.<\/p>\n\u201cNo, that\u2019s false. I never claimed responsibility,\u201d Trump said in the interview at his Mar-a-Lago, Fla., residence, adding that his relationship with McCarthy remained solid following a phone call between the two Thursday evening.<\/p>\n
Newly released audio showing McCarthy advocating Trump\u2019s resignation in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection prompted speculation as to how Trump would react, and how McCarthy\u2019s longtime bid to attain the House speakership if Republicans win the House in November would be affected.<\/p>\n
In the leaked audio of the Jan. 10 phone call, first posted Thursday by The New York Times and aired on Rachel Maddow\u2019s MSNBC show, McCarthy is heard saying he would advise Trump to resign. In a follow up audio release from a Republican conference call on Jan. 11, McCarthy is heard saying: \u201cI asked him personally today, does he hold responsibility for what happened? \u2026 He told me he does have some responsibility for what happened and he\u2019d need to acknowledge that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe made a call. I heard the call. I didn\u2019t like the call,\u201d Trump said, referring to the leaked audio. \u201cBut almost immediately as you know, because he came here and we took a picture right there \u2014 you know, the support was very strong,\u201d Trump said, referring to a picture taken of the two men at Mar-a-Lago following a cordial meeting in the days after the riot.<\/p>\n
Trump told the WSJ that the California Republican had not personally advised him to quit in the days after Jan. 6.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s all a big compliment, frankly,\u201d Trump said of McCarthy and his Republican congressional colleagues rallying around the former president after initial public criticism of his actions on Jan. 6. \u201cThey realized they were wrong and supported me.\u201d<\/p>\n
McCarthy said Friday he had not ultimately asked Trump to resign. \u201cThat never took place and nor did it happen,\u201d he told reporters at a California event.<\/p>\n
Trump aides on Friday appeared to downplay the effect of the new revelations on Trump and McCarthy\u2019s relationship.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would be highly surprised if President Trump allowed these left-of-center journalists and pundits to gain a victory by engaging in this warfare,\u201d Jason Miller, a former Trump spokesperson, told POLITICO.<\/p>\n
Trump this week endorsed Ohio senate candidate JD Vance, despite the author\u2019s public criticism of then-candidate Trump in the 2016 presidential race. Vance has since become a bullish supporter of the Trump agenda.<\/p>\n
In his endorsement statement, Trump lauded Vance\u2019s position on closing the border and tariffs on China, saying that \u201cunlike so many other pretenders and wannabes, he will put America First.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kyle Cheney contributed to this report. <\/p>\n