Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is still bitter with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) for orchestrating his ouster.

McCarthy was queried about Gaetz during a Thursday interview with CNN's Manu Raju.

"How much would the Republican Party benefit if he were no longer a member of the House, in your opinion?" Raju asked.

"Oh, tremendously," McCarthy insisted. "I mean, people have to earn the right to be here. And I just think from, I mean, he'll admit to you personally, he doesn't have a conservative bent in his philosophy and just the nature of what he focuses on."

Raju wondered if Republicans 'should consider expelling' Gaetz.

"That's up to the conference," McCarthy said. "But I mean, I don't believe the conference will ever heal if there's no consequences for the action."