Trump to Be Nominated to Replace Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House
Former President Donald Trump is being floated as a candidate for speaker of the House after Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California was forced out of the position on Tuesday.
McCarthy was ousted following an effort by Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to take him down. Seven other Republicans and 210 Democrats joined Gaetz in the historic vote to boot him.
Gaetz argued that unseating McCarthy was key to reining in the country’s spending and that Americans were being “screwed” by him.
.@SpeakerMcCarthy never intended to move onto single-subject appropriations bills until we FORCED him to!
His plan was always another continuing resolution.#MotionToVacate pic.twitter.com/VwheW2dOnC
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) October 3, 2023
Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina will act as interim speaker until a permanent candidate is chosen to replace McCarthy.
Given that there is no language in the U.S. Constitution that requires the speaker to be a sitting member of the House, Trump’s name was immediately floated by numerous Republicans.
.@realDonaldTrump for Speaker 🇺🇸
— Greg Steube (@gregsteube) October 3, 2023
Republican Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas announced that he would officially nominate the former president for the position.
“This week, when the U.S. House of Representatives reconvenes, my first order of business will be to nominate Donald J. Trump for Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives,” Nehls said in a statement, according to The Hill.
“President Trump, the greatest President of my lifetime, has a proven record of putting America First and will make the House great again.”
Kevin McCarthy will NOT be running again as Speaker.
I nominate Donald J. Trump for Speaker of the House.
— Congressman Troy E. Nehls (@RepTroyNehls) October 3, 2023
Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia said Trump is the only candidate she is currently supporting for the speakership.
“He will end the war in Ukraine. He will secure the border. He will end the politically weaponized government. He will make America energy independent again. He will pass my bill to stop transgender surgeries on kids and keep men out of women’s sports. He will support our military and police,” she posted on X.
“He has a proven 4 year record as President of the United States of America. He received a record number of Republican votes of any Republican Presidential candidate! We can make him Speaker and then elect him President! He will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
The only candidate for Speaker I am currently supporting is President Donald J. Trump.
He will end the war in Ukraine.
He will secure the border.
He will end the politically weaponized government.
He will make America energy independent again.
He will pass my bill to stop…
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) October 4, 2023
Fox News host Sean Hannity reported on Tuesday night that Trump is “open” to the idea of taking the helm in the House “in the short term, if necessary.”
HANNITY: “Sources telling me… that some House Republicans have been in contact with and have started an effort to draft former President Donald Trump to be the next Speaker and I have been told that President Trump might be open to helping the Republican Party.. if needed” pic.twitter.com/6g8IZ0ZuWy
— ALX 🎃 (@alx) October 4, 2023
Hannity asked Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio about the possibility.
Jordan said he would support Trump for speaker but that he would rather see him re-elected as president next fall.
Sean Hannity says Donald Trump has been contacted about possibly being an “interim Speaker of the House” and asks Congressman Jim Jordan if that is a reality. pic.twitter.com/Gy86UjDnRI
— ALX 🎃 (@alx) October 4, 2023
Gaetz nominated Trump and a number of his House colleagues for speaker during the marathon session that saw the eventual election of McCarthy in January.
McCarthy has ruled out another bid for the speakership.
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