Trump Urges GOP to Back McCarthy With Speaker Bid Faltering

McCarthy failed to move a single vote after three rounds
No House business can move forward until a speaker is named

Kevin McCarthy at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on Jan. 3.Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Magan Crane, Billy House, and Erik Wasson

January 4, 2023 at 1:12 PM UTC

Updated on

January 4, 2023 at 3:50 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Former US President Donald Trump urged the conservative House members to back beleaguered Representative Kevin McCarthy for House speaker Wednesday as his humiliating struggle to secure enough votes from his own party stretched into a second day.

“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,” he wrote on his Truth Social network.