Donald Trump, former US President threw his hat in the ring to become the next House Speaker.
Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, October 5, Trump stated that he was open to taking up the speaker position for a short term.
Trump’s decision followed the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the speakership after less than nine months.
Explaining the sudden decision to become House Speaker, he noted that it would help the Republicans to gather enough votes to pick one of their own.
Trump stated that he had been approached by Republicans to take the position, and would offer to do it until a longer-term replacement can be put in place.
House rules do not prohibit non-members from being elected to the speakership, though Trump’s four indictments since his 2024 presidential campaign launch could keep him from becoming speaker, according to GOP conference rules, which state that indicted leadership members with two-plus-year sentences “shall step aside.
Trump did not rule out a potential run to succeed McCarthy after the California Republican’s historic ouster earlier this week, while at least three House Republicans said they would back Trump in a speaker vote.
One day after the House voted to remove McCarthy from the speakership, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)—an outspoken Trump ally who stood by the president during his two impeachments and after the January 6 insurrection and used the House Judiciary Committee to launch dogged investigations into Democrats—became the first GOP member to launch a speakership bid on Wednesday.
Hours later, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) threw his hat in the ring, while a handful of other Republicans have also been speculated to make runs, including Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.).
McCarthy had dared the Reps to file an impeachment motion after standing his ground and saving President Joe Biden’s administration from going into total shutdown.
