Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) was denied chairmanship of the powerful Homeland Security Committee on Monday, just days after his attack on conservatives who won major concessions from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

“We cannot let the terrorists win,” Crenshaw told Fox News Radio host Guy Benson during the Speaker votes last week. “They demand more places on committees. So McCarthy says, ‘OK, give me a list of names.’ And then they refuse. And then they say, ‘Oh, you’re trying to trick us.’ You know? I mean, it’s like playing with children… It’s very difficult to understand what it is they want.”

“They are enemies now,” Crenshaw told CNN the same day. “They have made it clear that they prefer a Democrat agenda than a Republican one.”

The 20 Republican House members who drew Crenshaw’s ire refused to vote for McCarthy until he granted several key rules changes giving conservatives greater sway.

Crenshaw walked back his comments after many of his colleagues were outraged.

“Obviously, to people who took offense by that, it’s pretty obvious that it’s meant as a turn of phrase,” Crenshaw told State of the Union host Jake Tapper. “It’s clearly a turn of phrase that you use in what is an intransigent negotiation.”

While accusing fellow Republicans of "preferring the Democrat agenda," Crenshaw ironically joined hard-left Democrats in attacking his conservative colleagues.

MSNBC accused Congressman Scott Perry (R-PA), chairman of the Freedom Caucus, of racism for nominating black Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) in the speaker race against McCarthy.

Ja’han Jones of MSNBC said:

You wanna hear what it sounds like for a racist insurrectionist to endorse a Black [sic] man for House Speaker? @RepScottPerry

Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-MO) tweeted the following:

FWIW, @ByronDonalds is not a historic candidate for Speaker. He is a prop. Despite being Black, he supports a policy agenda intent on upholding and perpetuating white supremacy.

 

His name being in the mix is not progress—it’s pathetic.

Slate, referring to the 20 conservatives, said: “the Freedom Caucus isn’t selflessly pursuing this change out of an abiding commitment to democratizing the chamber.”

As previously reported, conservatives doubt McCarthy's willingness to work outside the establishment.

“I think what he’s trying to do is the bare minimum that he needs to try and get to where he can get the votes.” said Rep. Perry last week during the speaker fight. 

Despite backlash from establishment Republicans, Democrats, and the media, conservatives across America stood with the 20.

As Turning Point USA founder and podcaster Charlie Kirk pointed out, the 20 were able to achieve monumental wins despite intense opposition from both sides of the aisle:

Former president Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: 

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), one of the most vocal opponents of McCarthy, tweeted that the 20 achieved great success in their stand against the establishment:

After fifteen ballots, and making multiple concessions with the 20 holdouts, McCarthy won 216-212. 

After the conservative victory, Rep. Perry tweeted: “Congratulations to the American People – tonight your much-improved House starts to get back in order.”

Amy Jo Underwood contributed to this article.