Trump posts photo of himself in the Speaker’s chair – despite party rule on people under indictment getting the gavel

Former President Donald Trump may see himself as someone who can bring order to the fractious House by posting an image of himself brandishing a gavel and sitting in the speaker’s chair.

Trump posted the image to his Truth Social platform on Wednesday afternoon, amid chaos in the House of Representatives and even news coverage of his civil trial in New York, where Trump again attacked prosecutor Letitia James.

The image showed Trump brandishing a large gavel while wearing his signature Make America Great Again hat.

It came as Republicans blasted each other for supporting or tearing down former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, while Trump loyalist Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) criticized interim Speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry (R.N.C.) because he sent legislators. at home in their districts.

The image kept alive the storyline of Trump himself coming to the rescue, in a room that accused President Joe Biden of becoming a “mega MAGA.”

The House rules do not specify that the speaker must be someone who is an elected member of the House.

But there are countless reasons for Trump to think twice about the action.

But under the Republican Party’s own bylaws, Trump would be barred from holding the top job.

“A member of the Republican Leadership will step aside if charged with a crime punishable by a prison sentence of two or more years,” the Republican Conferences said.

Trump faces up to 71 years in prison for his Georgia indictment alone, which is one of only four charges he faces.

The speakership would place him third in line for the presidency. The post has no pardon power. Trump has said it is “highly unlikely” he will pardon himself if re-elected.

Whoever gets the job will be tasked with presiding over a four-vote majority in a conference where a succession of leaders have left on difficult terms.

Trump did not completely rule out the idea when asked about it at a Manhattan courthouse on Wednesday, after a handful of right-wing Republicans put forward his name for the top job.

Trump’s post came hours after Rep. Patrick McHenry, an ally of Kevin McCarthy, banged the gavel as he sent the House into recess minutes after McCarthy was impeached

“A lot of people have asked me about it,” Trump said.

“We are ahead by about 50 points as president. My focus is entirely on that. If I can help them through the process, I would. But we have some great people in the Republican Party. They will do an excellent job as speakers,” he continued.

“I will do whatever it takes to help, but my focus is on the presidency,” Trump added.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy was impeached in a historic vote on a motion to evict filed by Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz.

Gaetz is a Trump loyalist who said he spoke to Trump by phone during McCarthy’s final days and suggested Trump supported his efforts. But Trump also posted a message on social media asking why Republicans were fighting each other instead of President Biden, which seemed to urge them to call it quits.

“Why are Republicans always fighting among themselves, why don’t they fight the radical left Democrats who are destroying our country?” Trump posted.

Eight Republicans sided with all Democrats to oust their leader, making McCarthy the shortest-lived speaker in 140 years and the first ever to be ousted mid-term.

But some of them do not support Trump’s bid to win back the White House.

Former President Donald Trump is ‘open’ to becoming Speaker of the House of Representatives after a handful of right-wing Republicans put his name forward for the top position

Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted in a historic vote on a motion to evict filed by Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz.

“The only candidate for chairman that I currently support is President Donald J. Trump,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., wrote on X.

“@realDonaldTrump as speaker,” added Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla.

“Kevin McCarthy will NOT serve as chairman again. I nominate Donald J. Trump to be Speaker of the House of Representatives,” said Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas.

But Trump has been indicted four times in the past six months. He has been indicted on 91 federal and state charges and could face hundreds of years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Two of the cases are federal: one involves his handling of classified documents and one involves his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

There is no consensus yet on who will become the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Since McCarthy’s outgoing Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan emerged as front-runners to take the top job, they have begun calling rank-and-file offices to gauge support.

Rep. Kevin Hern, chairman of the Republican Study Committee, and Whip Tom Emmer have also hinted at interest in the role and have made calls to several offices.