Ken Buck says GOP efforts to elect Trump as Speaker ‘not going to happen’

Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) said Sunday that some Republicans’ floating to elect former President Trump as Speaker of the House won’t come to fruition.

Buck told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that some GOP members’ push to nominate the former president as Speaker is “not going to happen” in the wake of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) ousting from the top leadership post last week.

“No, it shouldn’t happen,” Buck said. “You know, we have a lot of talent inside the House. We’ll settle this inside the House Republican Conference, and we will elect someone that will have the unity and the backing of the full conference.”

When asked if he would support Trump for president, Buck said he would support the GOP nominee. When asked if he would support the former president if he is convicted, Buck reiterated that he would not support a convicted felon.

Trump has continued to lead other GOP presidential candidates by double-digit points for much of this year with no indication so far that he won’t clinch the nomination next year while also battling a myriad of legal troubles in the form of four criminal indictments.

House Republicans have been in disarray since McCarthy was ousted from the top spot Tuesday afternoon. McCarthy has said that he will not seek the Speakership again, while two lawmakers — Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) — announced they will pursue the job. 

A handful of lawmakers initially put forward Trump as their nomination for the Speakership last week. Trump had even suggested he would temporarily step in as Speaker “if necessary.”

However, Trump has now endorsed Jordan for the Speakership. Buck said that he will not endorse a candidate before agreeing on spending limits.