Former president Donald Trump on Thursday volunteered himself to temporarily serve as House speaker for up to 90 days while the Republican Party figures out who will replace Representative Kevin McCarthy.
“I have been asked to speak as a unifier because I have so many friends in Congress,” Trump told Fox News. “If they don’t get the vote, they have asked me if I would consider taking the speakership until they get somebody longer-term because I am running for president.
“They have asked me if I would take it for a short period of time for the party, until they come to a conclusion,” he added. “I’m not doing it because I want to — I will do it if necessary, should they not be able to make their decision.”
On Monday, a motion to vacate from Florida representative Matt Gaetz succeeded, ousting McCarthy from his leadership role in the chamber. The vote was 216-210, with some Republicans joining Democrats, to remove McCarthy, who barely secured the spot in January after a multi-day marathon of voting.
As of Wednesday, allies of the former speaker were saying that House Majority Leader Steve Scalise had the clearest path to the position after he announced his bid. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, a Trump supporter, also entered the race for the speakership the week.
Some members of the House Freedom Caucus are particularly enthused about Trump subbing in.
“If Trump becomes Speaker of the House, the House chamber will be like a Trump rally everyday!!” Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote Thursday on X (formerly Twitter). “It would be the House of MAGA!!!”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer shot back online, “No thanks, we’re good. We’ve seen a Trump rally at the Capitol already.”
GOP congressmen Troy Nehls and Greg Steube also said they want Trump to be nominated and elected House speaker.
To win the speakership, Trump would need to earn the votes of most Republicans, which could prove difficult. Trump is planning to visit the Capitol on Tuesday for a meeting with Republican lawmakers, where he may pitch his candidacy, he told Fox News. Internal elections for the speakership are supposed to happen Wednesday, a source familiar with the procedural plans told Politico.