The Rise and Fall of Kevin McCarthy: Lessons for the Next House Speaker

Former President Donald Trump briefly considered a bid to become the Speaker of the House, but was convinced by his political advisers and House allies that it was a bad idea. Trump's flirtations with the idea were met with panic among House Republicans, who feared being tied to Trump as speaker and facing questions about his leadership. Trump's senior allies advised him that he would likely lose the nomination process and receive only a handful of votes, potentially embarrassing him. They encouraged him to focus on the 2024 presidential race instead, and Trump ultimately decided against pursuing the speakership.