Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) said he plans to nominate former President Donald Trump to serve as the next Speaker of the House after Kevin McCarthy was booted from the position Tuesday.
“This week, when the U.S. House of Representatives reconvenes, my first order of business will be to nominate Donald J. Trump for Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives,” Nehls said in a statement obtained by The Hill. “President Trump, the greatest President of my lifetime, has a proven record of putting America First and will make the House great again.”
Nehls’ statement comes hours after the House voted to oust McCarthy as Speaker. It is the first time in history that a sitting Speaker was booted from the job.
The effort was led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) after McCarthy worked with Democrats to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government open. Gaetz was joined by Republican Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Ken Buck (Colo.), Tim Burchett (Tenn.), Eli Crane (Ariz.), Bob Good (Va.), Nancy Mace (S.C.) and Matt Rosendale (Mont.)
Every Democrat in the House supported McCarthy’s ouster. The final vote was 216-210.
North Carolina GOP Rep. Patrick McHenry will serve as acting Speaker until a new leader is elected. McCarthy has said he will not run for the position again.
It is not clear who will replace McCarthy. In addition to Trump, other potential candidates include Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA.) and Tom Emmer (R-MN).
The Speaker of the House is not required to be a sitting member of Congress, though no Speaker has ever held the role without serving in the chamber.
