Hannity says Trump open to effort to ‘draft’ ex-president as Speaker

Fox News host Sean Hannity says former President Trump is open to the idea of being drafted by House Republicans to serve as the next Speaker of the House, although that scenario remains very unlikely.

“Sources telling me at this hour some House Republicans have been in contact with and have started an effort to draft former President Donald Trump to be the next Speaker, and I have been told that President Trump might be open to helping the Republican Party, at least in the short term, if necessary,” Hannity said on his nightly program Tuesday.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted hours earlier, after a small group of hardline Republicans, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), put forth a motion to vacate the chair, claiming McCarthy had “broken promises” to them and the American people over government spending and other issues. Democrats joined them in the vote to remove McCarthy.

A number of Trump-supporting Republicans have suggested the former president, who is currently running for the GOP nomination in 2024, should be selected as the next Speaker. That list includes Reps. Marjorie Taylor Green (Ga.), Greg Steube (Fla.) and Troy Nehls (Texas), who said he would nominate Trump for the role.

Although the Speaker does not have to be a member of the House, congressional observers have pointed out in the aftermath of McCarthy’s ouster that Trump being nominated and voted to the post is unlikely.

Speaking to reporters during a court appearance in New York on Wednesday, Trump said “a lot of people have asked me about” the possibility of him becoming speaker.

“I’m focused, you know, we’re leading … by like 50 points for president. My focus is totally on that,” Trump said of the 2024 race. “If I can help them during the process, I would do it. But we have some great people in the Republican Party that can do a great job as Speaker.”

The former president is under several federal criminal indictments, which House Rule 26 dictates would disqualify him from serving in GOP leadership. But lawmakers could theoretically change the rule.