Trump plans first visit to Capitol since riot amid Republican fight over next speaker

Trump has not visited the Capitol since the 2021 riot, which he has since been accused of inciting in a federal lawsuit. Photo: EDUARDO MUNOZ/REUTERS

Donald Trump plans his first visit to the US Capitol since the Jan. 6 riot next week as Republicans wage war over who will be the next speaker.

Sources close to the former president, US media reported on Thursday that he was considering entering the battle to replace Kevin McCarthy in an attempt to «unite the party.»

Mr Trump has already spoken to Jim Jordan, one of them. of the two Republicans running so far who said they had «a great conversation with the President.»

Mr. Jordan and Steve Scalise, the Republican majority leader in the House of Representatives, appeared. as two candidates in the next speaker election next Wednesday.

To win the election, either would need 218 votes—almost all Republicans—and each would need to form a coalition of representatives from different wings of the party.

Mr Trump has not visited the Capitol since the 2021 riot there, which he has since been accused of incitement in a federal lawsuit.

Rumors of the trip emerged as Joe Biden abruptly reversed his pledge to abandon border security the walls of its predecessor.

The president announced he had waived 26 federal laws in South Texas to allow construction of a 20-mile section of wall to be built in Starr County, reversing a 2020 pledge that not a single foot would be built if he won the election.

Migration has emerged as one of Biden's biggest challenges in the White House as his administration grapples with record numbers of Venezuelans crossing the U.S. southern border.

On Thursday he said he would use federal funding to highlighted by Biden. Mr. Trump, while in office to build the wall, told reporters: “Money has been appropriated for a border wall. I can't stop it.»

Mr Biden also warned that the US faced a new threat of a government shutdown over the decision to remove Mr McCarthy as House speaker on Tuesday and called for a ceasefire within the Republican Party.

“More “What we need to do is change the toxic atmosphere in Washington,” he said after the vote.

“You know, we have strong differences, but we need to stop seeing each other as enemies, we need to talk to each other, listen each other, work with each other.”

Steve Scalise is one of two candidates in the next election for Speaker Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The agreement on short-term funding for the federal government will allow agencies to run until Nov. 17, but turmoil in the House could prevent McCarthy's successor from agreeing to an annual federal budget with the deeply divided Republican Party.

Mr. Trump's reported interest in visiting the Capitol will raise hopes among some Republican hardliners that he himself is considering a run for speaker.

No speaker has ever been elected outside of Congress, although there is a legal requirement doesn't exist for that. congressman for the role.

Trump has the support of four Republicans, but he has made it clear that he is not interested in entering the House of Representatives and is focused on his presidential candidacy for 2024.

It is likely that he will be disqualified from running under a rule that prohibits candidates convicted of crimes that could carry a prison sentence of more than two years.

Some Republican members The party proposed measures to calm factional fighting between moderates and hardliners, including the ouster of Matt Gaetz. , the main force behind Mr. McCarthy's expulsion, from the party.

Others, including some on the right, believe House rules should be changed to eliminate the mechanism for a «motion to vacate»—essentially a vote of no confidence in Speaker.

McCarthy's ouster also raised concerns about continued US funding of Ukrainian forces in the war against Russia.

Mr Jordan said he did not believe the war was a «priority» but Mr Scalise has previously voted for funding packages but is unlikely to stress the need for further assistance.