The future of a powerful far-right House caucus remains uncertain after one member's loyalty to former President Donald Trump triggered his ouster and raised the specter of departures to come.
The House Freedom Caucus Monday night voted to eject Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) — who supported the victorious Trump-endorsed candidate over the group's own chair Rep. Bob Goode in his failed primary last month — spurring pro-Trump Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) to resign and sources to warn of more departures to come.
"Their loss!" Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), told Davidson Tuesday morning. "Back stabbing Bob Good and the Never Trump freedom caucus members are the problem."
Greene railed against the far-right group that booted her from the caucus last year for her outspoken attacks on fellow Republicans as they prepared to oust her House ally, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
"They have destroyed freedom caucus and have made it ineffective," Greene wrote. "In doing, so they have made our entire Republican majority ineffective."
Nehls — the Republican who swapped out his "stolen valor" military award for Trump's golden sneakers and a Trump-printed tie — apparently shared Greene's views on the Freedom caucus.
In a public statement, Nehls argued their decision to oust Davidson was a sign the group was about to falter.
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"I want to grow the organization and encourage more members to join," Nehls told USA Today reporter Ken Tran. "With tonight's vote it was clear that is not their objective."
Davidson responded to the decision with a slap at Good, the incumbent who lost Trump's support after endorsing Gov. Ron DeSantis for Republican presidential nominee then lost his Virginia primary to the Trump-endorsed challenger John McGuire.
"Congress will soon be a better place without Bob Good, as will Freedom Caucus," said Davidson. "I am disappointed that some HFC members (a very narrow majority of those present) viewed my opposition to Bob and support for John McGuire as an attack on them or the group."
Axios' report on Davidson's ouster noted it reflected a "a broader schism within Congress' right flank."
"Some of former President Trump's most fervent supporters on Capitol Hill, like Greene and Rep. Jim Jordan," Axios notes, "have found themselves increasingly alienated from Freedom Caucus leaders like Good."
The decision also raised concerns from outsiders such as a foreign affairs public policy adviser in Washington D.C. who warned the group had lost a principled member.
"Incredibly disappointing move by half(?) of the House Freedom Caucus," replied Dan Caldwell, a policy adviser for the think tank Defense Priorities. "[Davidson] is one of the most thoughtful and principled members of Congress - especially on foreign affairs."
Daily Kos chief content officer Kalli Joy Gray took a less mournful and more sarcastic tone.
"Imagine getting kicked out of the Freedom Caucus," she quipped. "It’s like getting kicked out of hell."
