In an exclusive interview with Breitbart News, former President Donald Trump discussed the 2023 race for House speaker.
The interview took place on Friday morning and covered a wide variety of issues, including the election for Speaker of the House and much more.
Trump stated, “I think it’s a very dangerous game that’s being played.”
“It’s a very dangerous game. Some bad things could happen. Look, we had Boehner and he was a strange person but we ended up with Paul Ryan who was ten times worse. Paul Ryan was an incompetent speaker. I think he goes down as the worst speaker in history. We took [out] Boehner—and a group of people, some of whom are the same, and they’re very good friends of mine. All those people are very good friends of mine.”
Trump stated of the controversial Kevin McCarthy, “I like him,” before lashing out at his opponents, including Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Matt Rosendale (R-MT), Bob Good (R-VA), and Ralph Norman (R-SC). Trump did not identify individuals attempting to prevent McCarthy from assuming the Speaker’s gavel on January 3, but he stated unequivocally that he disagrees with their actions and warned that if McCarthy does not take the gavel, there might be dire consequences for conservatives in Washington.
Trump is hardly the first prominent conservative leader to express similar worries. Mark Levin, a nationally known radio commentator, as well as incoming chairs of the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees Jim Jordan (R-OH) and James Comer (R-KY) have voiced their worries. Rep.-elect Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, who recently beat Rep.-elect Liz Cheney (R-WY), has also expressed worry.
Trump responded, “Yeah, I support McCarthy” when asked if he supports McCarthy in the election. “Everybody wants my support,” stated Trump. “I was 99 percent on endorsements [in the primary]. I don’t know the percentage but I was 233 and 22 on general election. Everybody would say that ‘yeah for the nomination he’s incredible but for the general election…’ But what’s that percentage? 233 and 22—it’s incredible. They always want my endorsement.”
Trump then elaborated on why he feels McCarthy merits the gavel.
“Look, I think this: Kevin has worked very hard,” Trump said. “He is just—it’s been exhausting. If you think, he’s been all over. I think he deserves the shot. Hopefully he’s going to be very strong and going to be very good and he’s going to do what everybody wants.”
Breitbart said that Trump also stated, again without name them directly, that he is “friendly” with a number of McCarthy’s opponents, but advised them to back off should they make matters worse.
Trump also alluded to these worries, as reported in a recent Breitbart News piece, and warned of a “doomsday scenario” in which Democrats would team up with an establishment Republican to award that establishment figure the Speakership if McCarthy falls. In exchange for Democratic support, it is feared that such a Republican may agree to a House rules change that would reduce or eliminate subpoena authority.
More on this story via The Republic Brief:
“Now, I’m friendly with a lot of those people who are against Kevin. I think almost every one of them are very much inclined toward Trump, and me toward them. But I have to tell them, and I have told them, you’re playing a very dangerous game,” Trump said. “You could end up with the worse situation. I don’t even want to say what it is, but I could tell you it’s a worse situation. You could end up with some very bad situations. I use the Boehner to Paul Ryan example. You understand what I’m saying? It could be a doomsday scenario. It could be. You could end up with somebody who would be a disaster like Paul Ryan was.” CONTINUE READING…