Former President Donald Trump has said that he would be willing to take on the role of speaker of the House for a period of time if the GOP is unable to select another candidate to fill the slot, Fox News Digital has reported.
“I have been asked to speak as a unifier because I have so many friends in Congress,” Trump told the outlet. “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.”
“They have asked me if I would take it for a short period of time for the party, until they come to a conclusion — I’m not doing it because I want to — I will do it if necessary, should they not be able to make their decision,” he noted, according to the outlet. Trump conveyed that if the GOP fails to arrive at a consensus, he would step in to the speakership role for a brief “30-, 60-, or 90-day period.”
“I would only do it for the party,” he noted, according to the outlet.
Earlier this week, after eight GOP lawmakers voted with Democrats to oust Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California from the speakership, McCarthy announced that he will not seek the position again.
GOP Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Steve Scalise of Louisiana have both thrown their hats into the ring to serve as the next speaker.
Trump is currently seeking the GOP presidential nomination, and according to polls, he is trouncing the rest of the Republican field.
“I’ve been contacted by multiple Members of Congress willing to support and offer nomination speeches for Donald J. Trump to be Speaker of the House. Next week is going to be HUGE,” tweeted GOP Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas, who has previously suggested Trump for the role.
“I nominate Donald J. Trump for Speaker of the House,” Nehls tweeted earlier this week.
But not all Republicans would support the idea of a Trump speakership. GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who has already thrown his support behind Jordan, has rejected the idea of Trump as speaker.
“Trump was vehemently opposed to even having a recorded vote in the House on the $2+ trillion CARES Act. He supported Pelosi’s attempt to pass it by ‘unanimous consent,’ without a quorum present. This disqualifies him from being Speaker,” Massie tweeted.
My choice for Speaker: https://t.co/PUZWIrmKmM
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) October 5, 2023
If Jim Jordan throws his hat in the ring we want the old Jim Jordan running the Congress. The one that shouted down Fauci and the rest of the covid gang. He was magnificent when he went after Garland too. That’s the guy!
Its real easy for the first 2 years: FIRST: Shut down the border until the entire wall is finished–100% finished. Then, and only then, will we consider a few foreigners with skills we need to make a better America. And while the border is closed, ICE, Border Patrol and national guard can round up about 20M+ illegals and send them back where they came from.
SECOND: Impeach Biden and Harris and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, defund Garland and Wray and prosecute so they cannot be transferred somewhere else in the government.
Third: Moratorium on spending any more foreign aid to any country until it can be justified by Congress. Absolutely, no more money or aid to Ukraine and recall any money not spent and seize property that is in the hands of the Oligarchs. Put the restrictions back on IRAN.
Fourth: Recall all military and other government contractors that are assisting or aiding in war or conflict that has not been approved by Congress.
See? nothing to it.