To say Rep. Steve King's (R-IA) colleagues want him to clean up his rhetoric is an understatement. He has made a career out of uttering unorthodox things to the press, but last week may have topped them all. In an interview with The New York Times, King wondered when the words "white supremacist" and "white nationalist" suddenly "became offensive."
Leading Republicans were some of the first to condemn those remarks. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) penned an op-ed explaining why King and his language do not represent the GOP or conservatism, while former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush encouraged Republicans to support a primary challenge against the Iowan.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, too, condemned King's comments in a statement when the controversy first broke, calling them "reckless" and "wrong." On Sunday, he promised that "action" would be taken against the congressman.
McCarthy has a "scheduled meeting" with King on Monday, the leader revealed on "Face the Nation."
"I'm having a serious conversation with Congressman Steve King about his future and role in this Republican Party," he said. "I will not stand back as a leader of this party, believing in this nation, that all are created equal, that that stands or continues to stand and have any role with us."
It's unclear exactly what that action will be, but it appears likely that at the very least King may lose his committee assignments.
.@GOPLeader says "action will be taken" in response to @SteveKingIA's comments. He says there will be a “serious conversation” about King’s future and role. After our interview, McCarthy told @margbrennan he is reviewing whether King should keep his committee assignments. pic.twitter.com/YD3LpgfHEU
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 13, 2019
"That language has no place in America," McCarthy emphasized, adding that "that is not the party of Lincoln."