Kevin McCarthy officially endorses Elise Stefanik to replace Liz Cheney

• Stefanik had been backed by Trump and other GOP leaders for the position, but this is McCarthy's first official endorsement.

Flashback: Axios reported last week that McCarthy was caught on a hot mic trashing Cheney, saying he had "had with her."

What they're saying: McCarthy on Sunday said the GOP needs to be "united", and that the chair, who is the third-highest ranking member of the party in the House, should be a messenger for the party.

• "[W]e are in one of our biggest battles ever for this nation and the direction, whether this next century will be ours," McCarthy said.
• “We need a conference chair that is delivering that message day in and day out and uniting the nation,” he added.
• "Yes I do," he said when asked if he supported Stefanik for the position.

Go deeper: Trump's iron grip over the GOP has been institutionalized