Shortly after deservedly taking credit for many of the key Republican victories in the 2018 midterm elections, President Donald Trump effectively endorsed Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for speaker of the House of Representatives.
“In all fairness, Nancy Pelosi deserves to be chosen Speaker of the House by the Democrats,” Trump tweeted. “If they give her a hard time, perhaps we will add some Republican votes. She has earned this great honor!”
In all fairness, Nancy Pelosi deserves to be chosen Speaker of the House by the Democrats. If they give her a hard time, perhaps we will add some Republican votes. She has earned this great honor!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2018
This effective endorsement came amid a new morning tweet storm in which Trump blasted any election analysis that did not give the president and his team credit for key midterm Republican victories.
“To any of the pundits or talking heads that do not give us proper credit for this great Midterm Election, just remember two words – FAKE NEWS!” the president tweeted.
To any of the pundits or talking heads that do not give us proper credit for this great Midterm Election, just remember two words – FAKE NEWS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2018
He then warned against the inevitable investigations the Democrats intend to launch into his administration, especially on the Russian collusion angle.
“If the Democrats think they are going to waste Taxpayer Money investigating us at the House level, then we will likewise be forced to consider investigating them for all of the leaks of Classified Information, and much else, at the Senate level,” Trump tweeted. “Two can play that game!”
If the Democrats think they are going to waste Taxpayer Money investigating us at the House level, then we will likewise be forced to consider investigating them for all of the leaks of Classified Information, and much else, at the Senate level. Two can play that game!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2018
Many of the candidates for whom Trump campaigned did indeed win on Wednesday (as of PJ Media’s count, 49 of the Republicans he endorsed won, 30 of them lost, but his entire slate in Florida won).
Trump’s endorsement of Pelosi seems rather interesting, as Pelosi has a very negative image across America, but not in her own party. Indeed, Pelosi arguably did “earn” the speakership by continuing to campaign for Democrats even as many in her party called for new leadership.
It seems Trump’s strategy likely involves keeping Pelosi at the top of the Democratic leadership so that Republicans can run against her again in 2020. That strategy did not work in the House of Representatives this year, but it might do better if Pelosi is re-elected speaker. If the Democrats “waste Taxpayer Money investigating” the administration over the next two years — as they almost certainly will — running against Pelosi will become an effective strategy in future elections.
Alternatively, if Trump’s endorsement leads Democrats to rethink choosing Pelosi, it could spark a nasty election battle for House speaker — a situation that also benefits Trump and the Republican Party.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter at @Tyler2ONeil.
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