The influence that former President Donald Trump wields over the Republican Party is unlikely to change any time soon — but could Trump’s role within the party change instead?
Right now, Trump is the prohibitive favorite to win the GOP presidential primaries. Many polls have him beating President Joe Biden in a hypothetical general election, as well.
But as Trump grapples with a number of legal issues, a power vacuum has opened up in the House of Representatives.
Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was removed from his position on Tuesday after he was challenged by a coalition of disgruntled Republicans.
Which means there’s a vacancy to fill — and some have already eyed Trump to take that empty seat.
But what does the former president himself think about taking on the role of speaker?
Take a look at the response he gave reporters on Wednesday during a break in a hearing in his fraud case:
“Who should be speaker?” several reporters asked Trump just as it appeared he was ready to return to the Manhattan courtroom.
The former president, doubling back, opened up: “A lot of people have been calling me about speaker. All I can say is we’ll do whatever is best for the country and for the Republican Party.”
At that point, a reporter asked Trump, “Would you take the job?”
Trump noted that he is leading the GOP primary race “by like 50 points.”
“My focus is totally on that,” he said. “If I can help them during the process, I would do it, but we have some great people in the Republican Party that could do a great job as speaker.”
Another reporter pointed out that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene had called for Trump to replace McCarthy. Trump called Greene a “wonderful woman” but again seemed to demur.
“I’ll do whatever it is to help but my focus — my total focus — is being president and, quite honestly, making America great again,” Trump said. “Because we are living in a country in decline. This is a country that’s failing badly.
“We’re not respected in the world. Interest rates are through the roof. Taxes are through the roof. Inflation is horrible. What is done to us is eating us alive. [Gas] is now over $5. I was at $1.87.”
Trump then put it bluntly: “So I’m running for president. I’m up by 40 or 50 points, and more in some cases. But whatever I can do to help with regard to speaker is good.
“By the way, I’m also leading Biden by a lot.”
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Sincerely,
Josh Manning
Deputy Managing Editor
The Western Journal
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