Biden ‘concerned’ about future Ukraine aid following McCarthy ouster
President Joe Biden has shared concerns about continuing aid to Ukraine following impasse in the House following the ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump said Thursday he would consider accepting the House job on a short-term basis if Republicans deadlocked on choosing a replacement, though one lawmaker, former presidential Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said he plans to support him. , to the position.
If House Republicans cannot reach consensus on a nominee to replace the impeached Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.“Since I’m running for president, they asked me if I would consider taking the speakership until we get someone long-term,” Trump told Fox News Digital.
Hours later, Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, who had planned to nominate Trump for speaker, In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said, The former president called him and said, “He supports Jim Jordan, and I believe Congress needs to listen to the leader of our party.”
In his Fox interview, Trump said: “They asked me if I would take it short for the party until they came to a decision — and I didn’t, because I would. If necessary, they cannot make up their mind.”
The former president told Fox News Digital that he will travel to Washington, D.C., next week to meet with congressional Republicans about choosing a new speaker.
Earlier this week, Trump downplayed the idea of running for speaker, saying his “total focus” was on the 2024 presidential election. He also said he was doing everything he could to unite Republicans after eight party members this week pushed for McCarthy’s impeachment.
“If I can help them during the process, I will,” Trump said, adding that a handful of House Republicans urged him to seek the job anyway.
“Many members of Congress have contacted me to support Donald J. Trump becoming Speaker of the House and to give nomination speeches,” Nehls said. In X. “Next week will be big.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, R-Ga., will be Trump’s running mate if he wins the GOP presidential nomination next year. X said Thursday “If Trump becomes Speaker of the House, the House Chamber will be a Trump rally every day!! It will be the House of Maga!!!”
Who announced his candidacy for the post of Speaker?
House Majority Leader Rep. Two House Republicans have formally announced they are running for speaker: Steve Scalise, R-La., and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jordan. Asked about Trump on Fox News, Jordan said: “I think President Trump should be president of the United States.”
Other Republicans suggested that Trump was trying to exert power over the party and declare himself kingmaker to replace McCarthy.
Trump did something similar when McCarthy won the election for Speaker. The former president took credit for breaking a deadlock that had kept McCarthy from winning by more than a dozen votes.
During that process, a House Republican nominated Trump for speaker: Rep. Matt Gates, R-Fla., led the push to remove McCarthy.
Will Trump qualify?
Technically, the Speaker of the House does not have to be a member of Congress, although they always have been.
But if Trump is somehow elected, Republicans may have to change their rules.
House Republican Convention Rule 26 A member says Republican Party leadership must vacate office if convicted of a felony punishable by two or more years in prison.
Trump faces indictments in four separate criminal cases, including hush money, misappropriation of classified documents and attempts to sway the 2020 election.
Democrats mocked Trump’s visit to Capitol Hill less than three years after his supporters ransacked the building during the Jan. 6, 2021 riot.
Responding to Green’s call for a Trump rally every day in the House, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., said: “No thanks, we’re fine. We’ve already seen the Trump rally at the Capitol.”
Representative Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., said in X: “Criminals tend to return to the scene of the crime.”
