House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was asked Friday about the possibility of Trump becoming Speaker of the House if Republicans win control of the chamber in the 2022 midterms.
What he's saying: "You know, I've talked to President Trump many times, he tells me he wants to be speaker, and I think he should be president," McCarthy told Fox News. A spokesperson for McCarthy later clarified that he meant to say that Trump has told him McCarthy should be Speaker, not the former president.
Between the lines: The Constitution does not require the House Speaker to be a sitting member of Congress, though so far, only elected Representatives have been elected Speaker. The Speaker is elected at the beginning of a new Congress by a majority vote.
Editor's note: This version corrects the headline and lead. This post has also been updated with comment from a McCarthy spokesperson.