Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) reportedly rejected a request from allies of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to join the GOP over the weekend.

McCarthy allies tried to recruit the moderate Democrat in multiple phone calls over the weekend, five people familiar with the outreach told The Wall Street Journal. McCarthy could become the next speaker of the House if Republicans can secure at least 218 seats in the chamber and if he can fend off a potential bid for his leadership position.

The outcomes of over a dozen House races are still unknown. The GOP is favored to win a slight majority with 219 seats, according to NBC News’ Decision Desk.

Cuellar is a moderate Democrat from a district in southern Texas that runs along the U.S. border with Mexico. Cuellar’s district has been hit heavily with illegal immigration over the past two years, and the Texas congressman has been one of the most vocal critics of President Joe Biden from within the Democratic Party. Cuellar has made repeated appearances on Fox News to criticize Biden’s border policies.

A McCarthy spokesman told WSJ that the Republican leader did not request the calls.

“Anyone suggesting this is simply exercising in fan fiction,” McCarthy spokesman Mark Bednar said. “Leader McCarthy is going to be elected speaker by the current and newly-elected members of the House Republican Conference. Our efforts are exclusively focused on bringing our conference together and saving the country.”

The results of the 2022 midterms, underwhelming to many Republicans, have led many in the House GOP caucus to question McCarthy’s leadership heading into the new Congress. The GOP leader is facing a potential challenge from his right from Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus.

McCarthy oversaw a closed-door House Republican Conference meeting on Monday. Virginia Rep. Bob Good, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, reportedly told McCarthy that Republicans “got rolled” in midterms, according to The Daily Caller. The meeting overall reportedly featured mostly muted frustration with McCarthy, however, and nobody spoke in direct challenge to McCarthy for the potential speaker’s gavel.

Florida Rep. Greg Steube, also a member of the Freedom Caucus, reportedly noted the lack of opposition McCarthy faced at the meeting. “When you have such a slim majority, I think it’s gonna be difficult to find somebody else that could get to to 218,” he said, according to Bloomberg reporter Emily Wilkins.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shake hands with U.S Vice President Joe Biden (L) inside the Great Hall of the People on December 4, 2013 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 12:16 PM PT – Monday, November 14, 2022

President Joe Biden reiterated that the U.S. will continue to abide by the One China Policy following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

On Monday, while speaking to reporters in Bali, Biden downplayed concerns of Chinese aggression in Taiwan by saying that he does not believe China will imminently invade the island.

“Our One China policy, has not changed, has not changed,” Biden said. “We oppose unilateral change in the status quo by either side and we’re committed to maintaining the peace and stability in the Taiwan straits.”

The 46th President also said he and Xi spoke about the conflict in Ukraine as well as deterring North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. Biden has noted that he sees no need for a “new Cold War” with the Communist nation.

“We had an open and candid conversation about our intentions and our priorities,” Biden said. “It was clear – he was clear, and I was clear: that we will defend American interests and values, promote universal human rights, and stand up for the international order and work in lockstep with our allies and partners. We’re going to compete vigorously, but I’m not looking for conflict. I’m looking to manage this competition responsibly.”

Monday’s meeting was the first in-person conversation between the two since Biden took office.