Staff Reports
The House speakership election next week is expected to feel the impact of former President Donald Trump’s influence on the Republican Party. This comes after Rep. Kevin McCarthy was ousted on Tuesday. McCarthy, who survived a rebellion by hard-line conservatives earlier this year with Trump’s support, now faces uncertainty as Trump’s endorsement may not carry the same weight.
While it remains to be seen how significant Trump’s endorsement will be in the upcoming election, there are already Republicans pushing to elect Trump as speaker. Rep. Matt Gaetz nominated Trump in previous rounds, and Rep. Troy Nehls plans to nominate him on Tuesday. Nehls praised Trump as the “greatest president” and believes he will prioritize putting America first.
Rep. Greg Steube also called for Trump as House speaker, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene voiced her support, stating that Trump is the “only candidate” she currently supports. On the other hand, Trump did not directly take a stance against McCarthy, but questioned why Republicans are fighting amongst themselves instead of focusing on Democrats.
As for McCarthy, he deflected questions about a potential run for House speaker, expressing his focus on his presidential campaign. He acknowledged the talent within the Republican Party and their ability to do a great job as speaker.
