President Trump has been briefed on plans to force House Speaker Paul Ryan out of office this summer and is considering lending his support, according to a new report.
A source who discussed the idea with Trump told The Weekly Standard that the president “believes there is merit to the plan, but has not formed a final position.”
The plan is to replace Ryan quickly with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in part to strengthen the power of the speaker’s office after conservative lawmakers blocked a sweeping farm bill last week.
Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, plans to step down from the leadership post in January when he retires from Congress.
McCarthy has not spoken with Ryan about the plan, according to the report, and he denied that he’s considering supporting a coup, telling The Weekly Standard in a statement that the claim was “completely untrue” and that “Paul has my total support.”
Although McCarthy is considered a front-runner, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, also is considering seeking the leadership position. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., was seen as a contender, but said in April he would not run against McCarthy.
McCarthy, who has courted a close relationship with Trump, abruptly dropped out of the 2014 speaker’s race to replace Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, when faced with conservative opposition and rumors about a relationship with a fellow member of Congress.
Editor’s note: The Washington Examiner and the Weekly Standard are owned by the same parent company, Clarity Media Group.
