Staff Reports
In a strongly worded social media post, former President Donald Trump did not mince words when criticizing the House GOP's nominee for speaker, Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota. Trump characterized Emmer as "out of touch" with Republican voters and suggested that his election would be a "tragic mistake." This vocal critique from the former president is unlikely to bolster Emmer's chances in securing the speakership.
Trump went further by labeling Emmer as a RINO, an acronym for "Republican in name only," and implied that his election would have disastrous consequences for the party. Despite Emmer's attempt to seek Trump's endorsement, the former president expressed skepticism about the sincerity of Emmer's alignment with Trump's values. Trump raised questions about whether Emmer's newfound alignment with his positions was solely a political strategy to secure victory.
Trump calls latest GOP speaker nominee a 'tragic mistake' – https://t.co/vL2QFJ1kiZ
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) October 24, 2023
Emmer is currently facing the challenge of winning the support of over two dozen holdout lawmakers, many of whom are staunch supporters of Trump. He is actively engaging with these lawmakers in the Capitol in an effort to gain their backing. It's worth noting that Emmer did not vote to overturn President Biden's electoral victory in 2020, but his voting record generally aligns with conservative principles during his tenure in Congress.
Prior to endorsing Emmer, Trump had thrown his support behind Rep. Jim Jordan for the role of speaker. However, Jordan was unsuccessful in three consecutive House floor votes the previous week. While the outcome of Emmer's bid for the speakership remains uncertain, Trump's criticism undoubtedly presents an additional challenge to his campaign for the position.
