‘You Disrespectful Fool!’ GOP House Leadership Meeting Reportedly Descends Into Chaos

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

A late-night gathering of House Republican leaders reportedly erupted into a heated shouting match Tuesday, with Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) berating a fellow Republican as a “disrespectful fool” before storming out of House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) office.

The explosive confrontation unfolded during a 9:15 p.m. meeting called by Johnson, according to The Washington Sun, the publication formerly known as NOTUS. Johnson brought together members of Republican leadership, including committee chairs and leaders of the five ideological caucuses known as the “five families,” to discuss Rep. Andy Harris’ (R-MD) push to suspend the federal gas tax through the election.

Harris, who chairs the House Freedom Caucus, had secured the meeting after agreeing to back leadership on a procedural vote.

But things quickly went sideways, the Sun reported, when House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-MO), who opposed moving Harris’ proposal to the floor, produced a 2022 social media post in which Harris criticized then-President Joe Biden for pursuing the same policy.

“Suspending the federal gas tax is just another Biden Administration stunt to distract from their self-inflicted crisis,” Harris wrote at the time.

According to the outlet, Harris became furious over Graves raising the old post, pounded the desk, and yelled, “This is f*cking war! This is war!”

Harris then moved to leave before Johnson urged him to stay and “talk this out.”

Higgins jumped into the clash on Harris’ side, reportedly berating Graves, “Why do you have to come at him personally? You disrespectful fool!”

Higgins and Harris then left the room.

One source characterized the gathering as among the wildest they had witnessed, while another told the Sun, “The room was really tense.” The outlet spoke with five sources who were in the room and another who was briefed on the meeting.

Representatives for Higgins, Graves, and Harris did not immediately respond to the Sun’s requests for comment.

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