“Donald Trump has been privately encouraging allies to support House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s bid for House speaker, believing that the California Republican will be an asset down the road should the former president find himself in a contested 2024 primary,” CNN reports.
“Trump reaffirmed his support for McCarthy’s leadership bid in an interview with Fox News last week and he has since been working the phones to persuade Republican allies to back him, particularly conservative members who remain skeptical of McCarthy.”

