Gaetz cast a vote for Trump to be speaker earlier this year
In a surprise turn of events, Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California, was ousted from his position as House Speaker following a bid to vacate by hardliner Rep. Matt Gaetz, Republican of California. In an unexpected nomination for the next House Speaker, former President Donald Trump’s name has been suggested.
Texas Representative Troy Nehls announced in a statement Tuesday afternoon that his first act when the House reconvenes will be to nominate Donald J. Trump for Speaker of the US House of Representatives. “President Trump, the greatest president in my lifetime, has a proven record of putting America first and will make the House great again,” he noted.
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Following this, Rep. Greg Steib, Republican of Florida, echoed the sentiment by posting on X (formerly known as Twitter): “@realDonaldTrump for Speaker.”
The next Speaker of the House does not necessarily have to be a current sitting member, historically, of the U.S. It is worth noting that every speaker in history has held that position.
This is not the first time that Donald Trump’s name has floated as a nominee for the post of Speaker. In January, when Kevin McCarthy faced challenges securing enough votes for his speakership, Matt Gaetz voted for Trump as a symbolic gesture.
After the recent vote to oust McCarthy as speaker, Gaetz told reporters on Capitol Hill that he would support several members of Congress if they decide to run for the seat. This list of potential candidates includes GOP Reps. Tom Emmer, Mike Johnson, Jody Arrington, Kevin Hearn, and Steve Scalise, none of whom voted to remove McCarthy from his role.
In the meantime, Rep. Patrick McHenry, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, will serve as interim speaker until a replacement for McCarthy is chosen.
According to House rules, when Kevin McCarthy was elected as Speaker in January, he was required to provide a confidential list of members who would succeed him as speaker pro tempore in the event that the office became vacant, as it did with his removal. It was revealed after McCarthy’s removal that Patrick McHenry was at the top of that list.
Patrick McHenry, a former media consultant and political operative, was first elected to the House to represent North Carolina’s 10th Congressional District in 2004. He held the role of House Republican Chief Deputy Whip from 2015 to 2019 and was appointed as the chair of the House Financial Services Committee in January.
On Tuesday, eight Republicans joined House Democrats in a dramatic vote to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker. Voting was conducted by counting each member’s vote by their surname.
An hour-long discussion was held before voting, during which Congress members expressed their views. Republican lawmakers spoke passionately for and against McCarthy, while those who opposed him spoke from the Democratic side of the House floor.
After the vote, McCarthy announced to reporters Tuesday evening that he would not seek re-election as speaker.