Pelosi on empowering McHenry: ‘You have to make him Speaker’

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) denounced attempts from some Republicans to give Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) more powers as the GOP caucus struggles to select a new Speaker.

“You really cannot give Mr. McHenry power,” Pelosi said in a CNN interview Thursday. “No, you have to make him Speaker, and then he has the awesome power of the Speakership.”

Republicans had floated a plan to allow McHenry to preside over passing legislation until January as the House passes two weeks without a Speaker. That plan may now be shelved, as Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the GOP’s Speaker designee, may face a third Speaker vote later Thursday.

“We made the pitch to members on the resolution as a way to lower the temperature and get back to work,” Jordan told reporters Thursday. “We decided that wasn’t where we’re going to go. I’m still running for Speaker, and I plan to go to the floor and get the votes and win this race.”

Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), secretary for the House GOP conference, said that Jordan is going to meet with the Republican holdouts before bringing a third vote to the floor Thursday. 

Pelosi said in the CNN interview that her concerns over empowering McHenry lay with how long those powers would last and their specific scope.

“So it’s substance. It’s timing. It’s structure. It’ll be up to [Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.)], and we all have confidence in him,” Pelosi said.

She added that the House needs a Speaker quickly in order to handle legislation addressing the quickly escalating war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine and other critical issues.

Pelosi also endorsed President Biden’s visit to Israel this week to discuss the conflict there, where Biden negotiated a humanitarian aid corridor into Gaza with Egypt.

“Our president has been just so strong,” she said. “He just understands so well the relationship between the United States and Israel, as our values partner, as our strategic partner, and also our role in the world, to be respectful of other people.” 

“We do have to help the people of Gaza,” she added. “The Arab countries have to do more, especially Egypt, in letting them in the corridor there.”