Kaitlan Collins Makes House Republican Squirm With Question About a Trump Speakership: ‘That Was a Pretty Big Sigh From You’

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) the question that very few House Republicans want to answer right now: Should Donald Trump be the next speaker of the House?

With the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as speaker on Tuesday, the position is being occupied in an acting capacity by Patrick McHenry (R-NC) until the House chooses a replacement. Reps. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Jim Jordan (R-OH) are vying for the job, and so is Trump – sort of.

The former president has offered himself up for the position “for a short period of time” if necessary, as the speaker does not have to be an elected member of the House. One potential snag is that House GOP rules bar from the speakership anyone under criminal indictment on charges that carry a sentence of more than two years. However, the Republican conference could change this rule if its members were so inclined. Trump is under four separate criminal indictments.

“Apparently he’s considering it,” Collins told Graves on Thursday’s edition of The Source. “It’s likely, I’m told by sources [Trump is going] to the Capitol on Tuesday as you are having your candidate forum the day before you’re going to have your actual speaker [vote]. He’s claiming tonight that he could actually take the job as House speaker on a short-term basis. Do you believe that that can happen?”

Graves responded by letting out a dramatic sigh and replied:

GRAVES: You know, look, there’s a part of me that just, just sitting down and buying tickets to watch the chaos, would be incredibly entertaining to see what the Democrats just created. But in a, I guess more serious fashion, look, my focus is on restoring functionality and stability. My guess is, just based upon precedent that the next speaker of the House is gonna be a member of the House of Representatives.

But as you have seen and I have seen, there are a few members of Congress that have said that they think that he would be a viable speaker. But as you know, there has not been an external speaker, I think, while the Constitution does provide for it, I think we’re gonna have a member of the House that’s speaker of the House.

COLLINS: That was a pretty big sigh from you. Are you saying that you don’t think Trump should come on Tuesday, that it’s not helpful?

GRAVES: No, I didn’t say that at all. It’s just that when you, when you look already–

COLLINS: Well, do you feel that way?

GRAVES: I’m sorry?

COLLINS: Do you feel that he should – that his influence there, his presence on Tuesday night is not helpful?

GRAVES: No, I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that we’re in this situation where we have chaos, we have uncertainty, and I do think that his presence is certainly gonna add another dynamic of excitement. But what I’m focused on and I’m going to remain focused on is getting the functionality of the House.

Watch above via CNN.

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