Trump For Speaker? Ex-President Isn't Ruling Out Replacing McCarthy—But His Criminal Charges Could Prevent It.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Some Republicans said they want former President Donald Trump to replace ex-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) following his ouster Tuesday, an idea Trump has not ruled out—but even though non-House members can technically serve as speaker, it's unlikely Trump will take the job, and the GOP conference's own rules suggest he's ineligible for the position.
Key Facts
Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) said Tuesday he will nominate Trump as a candidate for speaker when the House reconvenes Tuesday following a one-week recess.
Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Greg Steube (R-Fla.) also said they'd back Trump for speaker, with Greene posting on X he is the "only candidate" she is "currently supporting."
Fox New host Sean Hannity gave credence to the far-fetched proposal Tuesday, telling viewers his "sources" say some Republicans "have been in contact" with Trump about the idea and are actively trying to recruit him.
Trump has said previously he has no interest in the gavel, but did not rule it out on Wednesday, telling reporters outside of his New York civil fraud trial, "a lot of people have been calling me about speaker," and adding, "all I can say is we will do whatever is best for the country and other Republican Party and people."
However, political observers dismissed the idea, pointing out that Trump's schedule is jam-packed with his 2024 presidential campaign, civil fraud trial and four criminal indictments.
The indictments could prevent Trump from serving according to GOP conference rules that state any leadership member indicted for a felony that carries a sentence of at least two years "shall step aside" (Trump has been charged with 91 criminal counts this year that carry a combined maximum sentence of more than 700 years in prison).
The Constitution lays out no qualifications for speaker and does not prevent the House from electing a non-member, but it's never happened..
Surprising Fact
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who led the effort to remove McCarthy, voted for Trump as speaker in January, when it took the House a historic 15 rounds of voting to select McCarthy amid a blockade by Gaetz and other far-right members.
What To Watch For
The House will hold a candidate forum next week when lawmakers return from a week-long recess, Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) reportedly told the Republican conference Tuesday following McCarthy's ouster. McCarthy said he will not run again. Reps. Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), who voted against removing McCarthy, are two of the most likely prospects and have already begun to recruit votes, according to multiple reports.
Key Background
McCarthy became the first speaker in history to be fired from his post when eight Republicans joined 208 Democrats to eject him Tuesday, just 269 days after he was elected to the position in January. Gaetz filed a motion to remove him late Monday over a string of grievances that reached a breaking point when the House passed a short-term budget, with the help of Democrats, to avert a government shutdown. Seven other Republicans, including Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Matt Rosendale (Mont.) and Nancy Mace (N.C.), voted against McCarthy, prompting intraparty chaos and intense backlash from McCarthy's backers against the eight defectors. McCarthy's hold on the speakership was tenuous since the beginning of this year, when his election to the office took 15 rounds of voting and forced him to cut deals with hard-right members to win a majority in a narrowly divided House.
Tangent
Trump, who backed McCarthy for speaker in January and took credit for his victory, remained largely neutral amid Gaetz's effort to remove McCarthy. He told supporters in Iowa Saturday "I like both of them very much" and questioned the merits of the GOP infighting in a Truth Social post Tuesday, asking why they aren't fighting "the Radical Left Democrats who are destroying our Country" instead of each other. Gaetz said he spoke to Trump in recent days about removing McCarthy and suggested after the vote the discussions left him "with great confidence that I did the right thing." But Trump denied the insinuation Wednesday, telling reporters "no I did not," when asked if he encouraged Gaetz.
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IF not Trump
It could be Scalise vs Jim Jordan
it looks like trump may be a little too busy to do the job, and the future doesn't look very promising...
You know that Trump was my first suggestion to be Speaker, and you said "No thanks..." However, if he happens to be in jail instead of the House, I did provide a few alternate suggestions. LINK ->
I read it.
My response of "No thanks" was to the last sentence.
Oh, okay, LOL. No more advice, just ON TOPIC criticism.
Remember you made a vow on politics!
It wasn't a vow, it was an intention, but since this site is about 90% politics I got caught up in the current and have gone with flow.
I can't blame you Buzz.
Either one in that position would be a disaster! Same would go for Goetz.
Agreed.
They got in this mess by demanding that only member could call for a motion to vacate.
Today:
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell advised House Republicans to take away the rule that allows one member of Congress to call a vote to remove the speaker of the House.
GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz's motion to vacate the chair resulted in Kevin McCarthy losing his speakership Tuesday, marking the first time a speaker lost the gavel in this fashion.
Gaetz, along with seven other Republicans, joined all the House Democrats to remove McCarthy as speaker on Tuesday. The final vote was 216-210 .
"I think [McCarthy] has much to be proud of," McConnell told reporters Wednesday, a day after the vote. "We avoided a government shutdown. We did the inevitable with regard to the debt ceiling, and I’m one person who’s extremely grateful for his service."
"I have no advice to give to House Republicans except one, I hope whoever the next speaker is gets rid of the motion to vacate," the minority leader continued.
"I think it makes the speaker’s job impossible. And the American people expect us to have a functioning government," McConnell said.
Mitch McConnell Calls for Rule Change in House After He Claims It's 'Impossible' to Govern (msn.com)
Trump cannot be speaker. GOP's own rules.
Suddenly rules matter?
So much for the party of Law And Order.
The biggest question is whose office will they demand be vacated.
This is the most interesting passage in this article
GOP rules state that Trump would not be eligible to be Speaker of the House because he is indicted for felonies. What would anyone like to bet that if Trump decides he wants to be Speaker the GOP conference changes its rules? They will bow before Trump to whatever extent he wants.
It's like there is an echo in here.
Sorry, I didnt look at any of the other comments before posting, I just read the article.
Fine with me. I can think of nothing healthier for America than to have that man’s incompetence on public display all day long, every day.
Tried that, it backfired.
I was thinking maybe it’s easier to hide incompetency with the president. A speaker actually has to do parliamentary shit in front of cameras.
It won’t matter anyway. The only job he’d rather have besides president is emperor.
The GOP House is in such disarray it nearly came to physical blows in the party meeting after the vote to vacate. Some members plan to remove Gaetz from the conference and expel Nancy Mace from the moderate caucus. Dave Joyce said he and others would like to toss all 8 of the Republican members that voted to out McCarthy if they could. This is why they went on a week time-out before picking a new Speaker. It won't be Trump...
Speaking of Nancy Mace... she was threatened with a hold on any Republican conference money for her reelection if she voted as she did. We'll see if that threat holds water and how many Republicans primary each other.
All I know for certain is that the DC political circus never stops.
That will be the DNC campaign as the Biden administration prosecutes Trump and the media keeps that in the news.
It's back to the basement for Biden.
Of course it will. It would be the same if the parties were reversed. Everyone is going to look for their fundraising opportunities.
When all is said and done I hope they build a new prison on top of him. Hahahaha!
Good. The less I see of Cranky Uncle Joe the better my day is.
I don't know about that. It seems that the senior party plays with the gloves off.
This might help you out...
I don't quote the Bible. Those who don't believe in it shouldn't either.
sorry, that's all that's needed, I try to be a minimalist when dealing with the maga...
You make too many presumptions. The book certainly exists. I have multiple copies and I've read it many times.
But a non-believer has no right to quote from it.
I'm not trying to poke people in the eye. I want them to understand - use some reason and logic, but then I'm an optimist.
A non-believer in what? Books? Social lessons? Speaking to people on a level they will understand? Instead of understanding the point you reject it based on your emotions.
I'm guessing that you are not a Christian. Correct me if I'm wrong.
And how does that apply to what I posted? Does it make the lesson from the quote any less true? Are you, or are you not, ignoring the wrongs committed by Republicans and hyping up those same wrongs of the Democrats?
I do not believe in Zeus, but I have the right to quote Homer.
I do not believe in Allah, but I have the right to quote from the Qur'an.
If I am making a point about the Bible (e.g. it condones slavery), I have every right to quote from it to support my point.
So much for "the freedom of speech is absolute".
Indeed.
Tick tock, tick tock. Like sands through hourglass so are the days of funding till the government shuts down. And no matter what happens, Biden can kiss his Kiev goodbye.