Former President Donald Trump has expressed his willingness to step in as Speaker of the House for up to 90 days to assist in bringing unity to a fractured Republican Party following the tumultuous removal of Rep. Kevin McCarthy.
Trump, who is running for president again, made this announcement in anticipation of his involvement in a candidate forum for the House speaker race next week.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Trump cited his numerous friendships within Congress as a reason for considering the temporary speakership.
He stated, “I have been asked to speak as a unifier because I have so many friends in Congress. If they don’t get the vote, they have asked me if I would consider taking the speakership until they get somebody longer-term because I am running for president.” It’s worth noting that the speaker of the House is third in line for the presidency.
Trump’s appearance in Washington is scheduled after a presidential campaign stop in New Hampshire and before headlining a fundraiser in Palm Beach, Florida.
He had previously teased the idea of assuming the role, posting a meme of himself in the speaker’s chair holding a giant gavel, especially after some of his allies in the House put his name forward as a potential candidate.
The House speaker doesn’t necessarily have to be a member of the House, so Trump theoretically could take on the role. His involvement in the speaker race could influence the outcome, potentially benefiting Rep. Jim Jordan, a close ally who has fought against perceived misuse of the Justice Department against Trump. Jordan is running for the position against No. 2 Republican Steve Scalise, the Majority Leader, following McCarthy’s ousting.
Despite the potential scenario, Trump’s candidacy for speaker is seen as highly unlikely given his focus on the presidential race and the fact that he has been indicted four times.
House members have been sent home to prepare for a debate on leadership scheduled for Tuesday, which is expected to be contentious given the narrow majority in the Republican conference.
Trump’s involvement in the speaker race has raised eyebrows within the GOP, with some expressing concerns that it may further complicate an already tumultuous situation.
However, there is still a possibility that Trump could pursue the speakership without being a member of the House GOP conference, although this remains a remote prospect.
In the wake of McCarthy’s removal, the House GOP is grappling with the challenge of finding a leader who can maintain unity within a deeply divided conference.
McCarthy’s ouster was the result of a historic vote initiated by GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz and supported by eight Republicans and the entire Democratic caucus.
It marked a significant departure from typical party leadership transitions, further highlighting the divisions within the Republican Party.
Politics