Trump Says No to Tom Emmer for Speaker

Former President Donald Trump boards his private airplane, also known as Trump Force One, as he departs Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport after being booked at the Fulton County jail in Atlanta on Aug. 24, 2023. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump came out on Oct. 24 against House Majority Whip Tom Emmer’s (R-Minn.) bid for House speaker—after having said he would not get involved in the race to be second in line to the presidency.

In a post on his social media site, Truth Social, President Trump objected to Mr. Emmer becoming the speaker-designee.

“I have many wonderful friends wanting to be Speaker of the House, and some are truly great warriors. RINO Tom Emmer, who I do not know well, is not one of them. He never respected the power of a Trump endorsement or the breadth and scope of MAGA—Make America Great Again!

“He fought me all the way, and actually spent more time defending Ilhan Omar than he did me. He is totally out-of-touch with Republican voters,” he said.

“I believe he has now learned his lesson because he is saying that he is Pro-Trump all the way, but who can ever be sure?” continued the former president.

“Has he only changed because that’s what it takes to win? The Republican Party cannot take that chance, because that’s not where the America First Voters are. Voting for a globalist RINO like Tom Emmer would be a tragic mistake!”

After multiple secret ballots, Mr. Emmer beat eight other Republicans to become the nominee for speaker ahead of an expected floor vote this afternoon.

Mr. Trump reversed course after having said he would not insert himself into the race to succeed Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was stripped of the gavel on Oct. 3.

“I’m trying to stay out of that as much as possible,” he told reporters.

President Trump noted that Mr. Emmer called him over the weekend.

“He’s my biggest fan now because he called me yesterday and told me he’s my biggest fan,” he joked.

President Trump and his base have expressed criticisms of Mr. Emmer ranging from being in favor of gay marriage, to the debt ceiling agreement, to being against the Electoral College.

Mr. Emmer certified the 2020 election, which President Trump has claimed was stolen from him. Moreover, Mr. McCarthy endorsed Mr. Emmer—a move seen as pro-establishment.

Mr. Emmer will need 217 votes in order to win the gavel.

It is a tall task given that there are more than two dozen GOP holdouts.

Previously, Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Steve Scalise (R-La.) could not garner enough support to win.

The Epoch Times reached out to Mr. Emmer’s office for comment.