Trump Announces He’ll Be Speaker ‘For a Short Period Of Time’ If Need Be

Donald Trump/Truth Social

Former President Donald Trump announced he would accept the position of speaker of the House of Representatives “for a short period of time” to help unify the GOP while they find a permanent leader, according to Fox News.

Earlier this week, eight Republicans voted alongside Democrats to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as speaker after Congress avoided a government shutdown over the weekend. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) brought the motion forward, accusing McCarthy of breaking promises he used to win the speakership at the start of the year.

Despite his legal troubles, Trump seems eager to appear as the “unifier” for the GOP and offered to take over the top job temporarily. He currently leads the crowded Republican presidential primary field by a large margin.

“I have been asked to speak as a unifier because I have so many friends in Congress,” Trump said in a statement to 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.”

“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,” he added.

Trump did not state who in the GOP specifically asked him to serve as speaker, although numerous members, including Gaetz, have brought up the idea before. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) have announced their bids to succeed McCarthy.

The former president noted that he would be willing to hold the position for a “30, 60, or 90-day period” until the GOP comes to a consensus.

Per Fox:

“I would 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, who was floated as an option, and instead, for Trump.