Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) dismissed the idea of Donald Trump serving as the next House speaker.
Trump, the 2024 GOP presidential frontrunner, had earlier suggested that he might accept the role of House speaker until a decision on a new speaker was made following the ousting of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in a historic vote.
In a Fox News Digital interview, Trump stated that he would accept the speakership for “a short period of time.
“…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 told Fox News Digital.
However, Buck dismissed the idea during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week”. “That’s not gonna happen,” said the Colorado congressman.
“No, it shouldn’t happen and, you know, we have a lot of talent inside the House. We’ll settle this inside the House Republican Conference, and we will elect someone that will have the unity and the backing of the full conference,” he added.
Despite Trump’s interest, his possible speaker bid is unlikely due to GOP House rules and his ongoing legal challenges. Trump has faced multiple indictments this year, and GOP House rules prohibit anyone under a criminal indictment on felony charges from Republican leadership.
When asked if he would support Trump for president, Buck said he would support the Republican nominee, but added, “I have said I don’t believe a convicted felon should be president of the United States.”
Meanwhile, Trump publicly backed Jordan on Friday for the position of House Speaker. Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, “He will be a GREAT Speaker of the House, & has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”
With the Republican conference reconvening on Monday, both Jordan and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) will have the opportunity to present their respective cases on why they should be elected for the top leadership role in the House.
Jordan is currently running an investigation on President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, in his financial ties to Ukraine during the president’s time as the vice president during the Obama administration.
Trump’s name was floated as the idea to become the next Speaker of the House. He may to visit Capitol Hill this week to meet with the Republican caucus.
“I have been asked to speak as a unifier because I have so many friends in Congress,” said Trump to an NBC news affiliate. “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.”
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