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Donald Trump

Trump would accept House speakership for a 'short

period' while Republicans decide on a permanent
replacement
Trump told Fox News Digital he would serve as a 'unifier' until Republicans can rally around a new speaker
By Brooke Singman Fox News

Published October 5, 2023 4:59pm EDT

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EXCLUSIVE: Former President Donald Trump told Fox News Digital that he would accept a
short-term role as speaker of the House of Representatives to serve as a "unifier" for the
Republican Party until lawmakers reach a decision on who should take on the post.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was removed as speaker of the House on Tuesday after
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., introduced a measure against him known as a motion to vacate,
accusing him of breaking promises he made to win the speaker's gavel in January.

GAETZ 'OPEN-MINDED' ON RULES CHANGE TO ELIMINATE MOTION TO VACATE, WOULD

SUPPORT JORDAN OR SCALISE AS SPEAKER

"Ihave been asked to speak as a unifier because I have so many friends in Congress ,"
Trump told Fox News Digital. "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."

Former President Donald Trump speaks to a crowd during a campaign rally in Summerville, South Carolina, on Sept. 25,
2023. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

"They have asked me if I would take it for a short period of time for the party, until they
come to a conclusion — I’m not doing it because I want to — I will do it if necessary, should
they not be able to make their decision," Trump said.

Trump did not specify who had asked him, although a number of GOP lawmakers have
said he is their preference for speaker.

Since McCarthy’s ouster, both House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio,
and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., have announced bids to run for speaker.

Trump stressed that if Republicans cannot come to a consensus, he would take the
speakership for a short "30, 60, or 90-day period."

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., left, and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP,
Al Drago/Bloomberg)

"Iwould only do it for the party," he said, stressing that his focus is on his presidential
campaign.

Back in January, as the House considered who should become the speaker after
Republicans took the majority of the chamber, Gaetz opted not to vote for McCarthy or
Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, who was floated as an option, but voted instead for Trump.

FLASHBACK: MATT GAETZ VOTES FOR TRUMP AS HOUSE SPEAKER IN SLIGHT TO

MCCARTHY

When Gaetz’s name was called during the seventh round of voting, he responded: "Donald
John Trump."

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. (Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Trump told Fox News Digital that he will visit Washington, D.C., on Tuesday
and plans to be on Capitol Hill to speak with members of the House Republican
Conference as they consider who will become the next speaker.

As for whom he would support for speaker, the former president did not comment.

HOUSE VOTES TO REMOVE KEVIN MCCARTHY AS SPEAKER IN HISTORIC FIRST

A source familiar, though, told Fox News Digital that Trump is very close to Jordan and has
always had a great relationship with him. The source said Trump also has a great
relationship with Scalise.

Two Republicans — Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, right, and Steve Scalise of Louisiana — launched bids for House speaker on
Wednesday. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Trump is leading the 2024 Republican presidential primary field by a massive margin.

The most recent Fox News poll shows 60% of Republican primary voters supporting
Trump for the GOP nomination, up from 53% in the last survey in August.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS MOVE 'FULL STEAM AHEAD' ON IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY EVEN

AMID SPEAKER UNCERTAINTY

The only other candidates to receive double-digit support in that poll are Florida Gov. Ron
DeSantis at 13% and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy at 11%.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley sits at 5%, with former Vice President Mike Pence
and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott at 3% each. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is
polling at 2%, with the remaining GOP candidates receiving less than 1%.

Brooke Singman is a Fox News Digital politics reporter. You can reach her at
Brooke.Singman@Fox.com or @BrookeSingman on Twitter.

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