Christie: McCarthy, not Trump, will be the next Speaker

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) brushed off speculation that former President Trump could become the next Speaker of the House if Republicans take back control of the lower chamber next year.

“I just don’t think that’ll ultimately happen,” Christie told Julie Mason on Sirius XM’s “Julie Mason Mornings” when asked about speculation Trump would come back to Washington to be Speaker, an idea floated recently by Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows. 

“I think that’s one of the things that the media likes to write about,” Christie continued. “It’s like a brokered convention. Every four years the media loves to write about a brokered convention, and it never happens.” 

“So, unfortunately, I think that’ll be another disappointment for the media,” he said. “You guys aren’t going to get a Speaker Donald Trump.” 

When asked whether he thought Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) would be Speaker if Republicans regained control of the House in 2022, Christie said, “I think he’ll be the Speaker.” 

Christie, an early backer of Trump, has been critical of the former president recently, arguing Trump needs to focus on the future instead of harping over the 2020 presidential election results. 

His comments come after Meadows said last week he would “love to see” Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) replaced by Trump in the event Republicans take back the House. 

“I would love to see the gavel go from Nancy Pelosi to Donald Trump. You talk about melting down. … People would go crazy,” Meadows told former Trump adviser Stephen Bannon on “War Room.” 

“As you know, you don’t have to be an elected member of Congress to be the Speaker. She would go from tearing up a speech to having to give the gavel to Donald Trump,” he continued. “Oh, she would go crazy.”

A number of polls show House Republicans on track to regain control of the lower chamber as President Biden’s poll numbers continue to sink. Democrats currently hold a slim 221-213 seat advantage in the House.