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Former President Donald Trump says he wants the next speaker of the House to help him and will do whatever is necessary to help find a replacement for ousted Kevin McCarthy.
Some names, including Mr. Trump’s, have surfaced as possible speaker in the two days since eight GOP rebels and the entire House Democratic conference booted Mr. McCarthy.
Under House rules, a speaker does not have to be a member of Congress to win the gavel.
A GOP conference rule could prevent Mr. Trump from becoming speaker, however. According to Rule 26 of the Republican conference for the 118th Congress, a member of leadership who has been indicted of a felony must step aside.
Mr. Trump has been handed down four indictments with over 90 criminal charges. The rule noted that if a member of leadership resigns and is acquitted, he or she can resume the position.
House Republicans also can change the rules.
Mr. Trump has sought to throw cold water on calls for him to run for the position, saying his focus is on the presidential race. But he hasn’t ruled out lending a hand in finding a speaker friendly to him.
“I am running for President, have a 62 Point lead over Republicans, and am up on Crooked Joe Biden, despite the Democrat Party’s massive Law-fare, Weaponization, and Election Interference efforts, by 4 to 11 Points, but will do whatever is necessary to help with the Speaker of the House selection process, short term, until the final selection of a GREAT REPUBLICAN SPEAKER is made,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. “A Speaker who will help a new, but highly experienced President, ME, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Louisiana Republican, and Rep. Jim Jordan, Ohio Republican, have launched bids to replace Mr. McCarthy of California.
Meanwhile, Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, chairman of the largest caucus in the GOP conference, is seriously exploring a bid for the gavel, but has not publicly entered the race.
All three lawmakers have been vocal allies of the former president.
Conservatives have jumped on the bandwagon to elect Mr. Trump to the speakership. Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas said he plans to nominate the former president as speaker when congressmen return to work next week.
“Kevin McCarthy will NOT be running again as Speaker,” Mr. Nehls wrote on X. “I nominate Donald J. Trump for Speaker of the House.”
The Washington Times has reached out to Mr. Nehls to ask whether Mr. Trump’s aim for the presidency affects the Texas conservative’s intention to nominate him.
Other conservatives supporting Mr. Trump include Reps. Greg Steube of Florida and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.
“We need somebody to unite our conference, and I honestly believe he is the only person to do that,” Mr. Steube told Fox News.
Ms. Greene wrote on X, “We only have one choice for Speaker: President Donald J. Trump. His policies stopped the globalists and communists more than anyone else. He is the leader of the Republican Party and the only person we can trust to Save America.”
• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.
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