Ex-President Donald Trump supported Ohio Representative Jim Jordan on Friday in his pursuit for the top House leadership position.
Shortly after midnight, Trump posted on Truth Social, saying that Jordan “will be a GREAT Speaker of the House, & has my Complete & Total Endorsement!”
Trump pondered visiting Capitol Hill in the coming days to speak with Republicans as they choose a new speaker, according to a person familiar with the negotiations, before deciding to intervene in the race.
A close associate of Trump’s stated Thursday night that the former president will not be visiting Capitol Hill. The Messenger was the first to publicise rumours of the planned trip’s internal discussion.
On Tuesday, October 9, potential Republican House Speaker candidates will speak at a forum, laying the stage for a possible House-wide vote on Wednesday, October 11. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Rep. Jim Jordan have already declared their candidatures, and others may follow suit, but whether or not the Republican conference can unite behind a credible replacement for Rep. Kevin McCarthy remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, the House is effectively paralysed due to the vacancy.
Trump was asked to give the speech.
One person involved with the conversations said that GOP legislators have approached Trump in recent days with the possibility of him serving as speaker, even temporarily, and that Trump has been “intrigued” by the concept.
According to Trump’s interview with Fox News Digital, the party leaders have requested him to temporarily assume the role of party leader if they are unable to reach a consensus. “I’m not doing it because I want to,” he said. Trump told Fox News that he was concentrating on his presidential campaign but that he would willing to serve for “30-, 60-, or 90-day period.”
This week, Trump has reportedly told those around him that he is “flattered” and “honoured” that individuals have mentioned his name in connection with Kevin McCarthy’s dismissal, but that he is not really exploring the idea.
According to the two people, Trump is “entirely focused” on running for president and is using the rumour that he could be elected speaker to bask in the spotlight.
Many folks have been contacting me recently asking for speaker. During a pause in his civil fraud trial on Wednesday, Trump told reporters outside the courthouse in lower Manhattan, “All I can say is we’ll do whatever is best for the country and the Republican Party.”
Trump had already received vocal backing from Republican representatives in Texas from Troy Nehls and Georgia from Marjorie Taylor Greene.
If he ran, Trump would have to win over a majority of legislators who show up to vote, which could be challenging for a former president who is divisive even within the Republican party. New York rookie Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, who represents a swing district, told AWN earlier on Thursday that he doesn’t think Trump will play a significant role in the election for speaker.
Jim Sciutto of AWN asked Lawler if he wanted the former president to visit the Capitol, and Lawler responded, “I think the choice for speaker will be someone who is currently a member of Congress and I think these discussions should be among the members.”
Even if Trump were elected, he might still be forced out of leadership in the House Republicans because of the rule that says anyone facing criminal charges with a potential jail sentence of two years or more must resign from leadership in the House. Those regulations are self-enforced and are subject to alter after a speaker is chosen.
