Former President Donald Trump being nominated as the next Speaker of the House is rapidly gaining traction among right-wing pundits and lawmakers.
This surprising development emerged following the unexpected ousting of Rep. Kevin McCarthy from his House leadership role.
Prominent figures like conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, and even the far-right cable network Newsmax have enthusiastically endorsed the idea of Trump taking on the role of Speaker.
These endorsements came just minutes after McCarthy’s removal from House leadership.
On InfoWars, Alex Jones passionately advocated for Trump’s nomination, suggesting it as a litmus test for Republicans.
He argued that given what he perceived as fake charges and trials against Trump, making him Speaker of the House would be a powerful statement.
The phrase “Nominate Trump” trended on Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter), partly sparked by Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX), who unofficially nominated the former president in a viral tweet. Rep. Greg Steube also expressed support for Trump’s potential candidacy.
Fox News host Sean Hannity, known for his close relationship with Trump, revealed that he had been in contact with several Republican members of Congress who intended to pursue the idea formally.
Hannity suggested that Trump might be receptive to the concept, indicating that the former president might be willing to assist the Republican Party in the short term.
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Republicans Weigh Unconventional Speakership Options Amidst McCarthy’s Ouster”
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), a Trump ally and a potential candidate for the speakership, didn’t dismiss the idea but left the door open. He stated, “I want him to be the next President of the United States, but if he wants to be speaker, that’s fine too.”
The possibility of a wildcard outsider campaign for the speakership wasn’t lost on Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who initiated the original ‘motion to vacate’ that led to McCarthy’s removal.
Gaetz told reporters that while he would support several current members of Congress for the role, he wasn’t ruling out considering “other Americans who wouldn’t necessarily need to be a member of the body” for the speakership.
Among potential candidates, Reps. Tom Emmer (R-MN), suggested by Gaetz as a suitable candidate, and Steve Scalise (R-LA), reportedly favored by Emmer, the House Majority Whip, have also been discussed.
This political upheaval originated over the weekend when Gaetz disagreed with McCarthy’s decision to advance a stopgap spending bill to prevent a government shutdown.
The bill eventually passed with bipartisan support, igniting a significant rift within the GOP.
In a surprising turn of events, eight Republicans, along with all House Democrats, voted to remove McCarthy from his position.
In recent memory, this made McCarthy the only House Speaker to be fired by their colleagues.
The Republican representatives who voted against McCarthy were Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Ken Buck (R-CO), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Bob Good (R-VA), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Matt Rosendale (R-MT), and Gaetz.
The final vote tally revealed 216 members in favor of ousting the California Republican, while 210 opposed the move, underscoring the deep divisions within the Republican Party.
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Source: Daily Beast
