Donald Trump came out with enthusiastic backing for Kevin McCarthy's bid for House Speaker, calling on Republicans to vote for him after he failed to earn enough support in the new GOP majority on Tuesday.
The former president urged Republicans not turn their victory taking the House in the 2022 midterms into an 'embarrassing defeat.'
Some have floated the unlikely events that could result in another Democratic Speaker should Republican lawmakers in the lower chamber refused to unite behind McCarthy – or any other single alternative.
'Some really good conversations took place last night, and it's now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY,' Trump posted to Truth Social on Wednesday morning.
Former President Donald Trump came out in staunch support of Kevin McCarthy's speakership bid on Wednesday morning
Comes after McCarthy failed three times on Tuesday to garner the votes needed by his caucus to become the next House Speaker
'REPUBLICANS, DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT,' he continued in all caps. 'IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT.'
'Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB - JUST WATCH!'
The endorsement for McCarthy came after Trump refused earlier this week to say whether he would continue backing his speakership bid after he failed to earn the votes needed three times on Tuesday – at the start of the 118th Congress.
'We'll see what happens,' Trump told NBC News during a brief phone conversation.
The ex-president, who announced a 2024 White House run in mid-November, also boasted that he was receiving a flurry of calls from lawmakers hoping to gain his endorsement.
'I got everybody calling me wanting my support,' Trump said. 'But let's see what happens and we'll go - I got everybody calling, wanting my support. That's all I can say. But we'll see what happens. We'll see how it all works out.'
English (United States)