Trump Responds to Calls for Him to Become House Speaker

Former President Donald Trump leaves the courtroom for a lunch recess during the second day of his civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in New York on Oct. 3, 2023. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Hours after Congress made the unprecedented decision to oust Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his role as speaker, a Texas Republican boldly declared: “I nominate Donald J. Trump for Speaker of the House.”

U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) posted that declaration on social media on Oct. 3, shortly after the historic vote to vacate Mr. McCarthy’s leadership position. Reps. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) later chimed in to support that idea.

Fox News host Sean Hannity reported hours later that sources were telling him that the former president “might be open to helping the Republican Party, at least in the short term.” He also said: “I know for a fact: Donald Trump has been contacted about possibly him being an interim Speaker.”

On Oct. 4, President Trump broke his silence on the issue, responding to news reporters who inquired whether he would entertain the speakership.

He didn’t directly dismiss the speakership possibility, saying he would do “whatever is best for the country and for the Republican Party,” but he also reiterated that his presidential run remains his priority.

“My total focus is being president, and, quite honestly, making America great again,” he said.

The former president made the comments outside a New York courtroom, where a judge is considering allegations that he and his business enterprises exaggerated the value of their assets to gain more favorable interest rates on loans. That case threatens to damage or dismantle the financial and real-estate empire that he and his family have worked decades to build.

In an email to The Epoch Times hours after the former president cast doubt on the speakership bid, Taylor Hulsey, spokesperson for Mr. Nehls, wrote: “Congressman Nehls has every intention of nominating President Trump for Speaker of the House. Stay tuned for more info next week.”

Trump Would Make ‘Great’ Speaker

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) announced he would seek to become speaker. Hours earlier, when Mr. Hannity grilled him on the possibility of President Trump ascending to the position, Mr. Jordan responded: “He'd be great … [but] I want Donald Trump to be the next President of the United States. ... That’s where we need him, is at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. If he wants to be speaker, then that’s fine, too.”

President Trump had supported Mr. McCarthy’s hard-fought win of the coveted seat. After emerging victorious on the 15th round of votes in January, Mr. McCarthy stated: “I do want to especially thank President [Donald] Trump. I don’t think anybody should doubt his influence. He was with me from the beginning.”

Mr. McCarthy won the speakership after making several concessions, including granting a single member of the House the power to call for a motion to vacate the speakership—a move that led to his undoing.

President Trump, who communicates with the public largely via his Truth Social posts, remained mum in the immediate aftermath of Mr. McCarthy’s ouster. However, as congressional votes were being cast to decide Mr. McCarthy’s fate, the former president lamented on Truth Social: “Why is it that Republicans are always fighting among themselves, why aren’t they fighting the Radical Left Democrats who are destroying our country?”

Rule Could Block Trump

A member of the opposing party pointed out that House rules might bar the former president from assuming the speakership.

In response to reports that President Trump was being courted to fill Mr. McCarthy’s seat, Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.)  wrote on X: “I would direct your attention to rule 26(a) of the House Republican Conference rules for the 118th Congress.”

That rule states that any member of Republican leadership “shall step aside” if indicted on criminal charges carrying a potential prison term of at least two years.

The former president is battling 91 criminal charges in four indictments. He denounces the prosecutions as bogus attempts to interfere with his campaign for the 2024 presidential nomination.

He is the first former president to face criminal indictment and was also the first to have his mugshot taken. If the former president were to become speaker, that would earn another spot in the history books.

All 64 previous speakers have been members of Congress, although that is not a requirement.