President Trump reissued his support Saturday for Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s bid for speaker of the House, offering her Republican votes if necessary.
Naming Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., as a possible vote in an early-morning tweet, Trump said he would get the California Democrat “as many votes as she wants.”
I can get Nancy Pelosi as many votes as she wants in order for her to be Speaker of the House. She deserves this victory, she has earned it – but there are those in her party who are trying to take it away. She will win! @TomReedCongress
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 17, 2018
In remarks to reporters as he left for a trip to California, where he is expected to meet with Gov. Jerry Brown and incoming governor Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom to discuss the wildfires that have killed more than 70 people, Trump said the Democrats have no one else who could be speaker.
“I like her, can you believe it? I like Nancy Pelosi. She’s tough, and she’s smart, but she deserves to be speaker, and now they’re playing games with her, just like they’ll be playing with me. It’s called presidential harassment,” he said. “In a way, her own party is harassing her.”
He said he had tagged Rep. Tom Reed as an example of a more moderate Republican who could be tapped to support Pelosi rather than from the more conservative wing of the party.
“But I don’t imagine she’d need too many. But whatever number of votes she needs, if its 50 or 10 or 2 or 1, she’s got ’em from me, automatic,” he said. “So, tell her opposition they’re wasting their time.”
Reed told the Buffalo News on Thursday he could see supporting Pelosi or another Democrat, under certain circumstances.
Pelosi, who is facing a possible challenge from Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, said in a press conference earlier this week she wouldn’t accept Republican votes to win the leadership spot and is confident she has the votes necessary in her party.
A number of Democrats, however, have already reportedly pledged to oppose Pelosi as she seeks to regain the gavel.
