Rep. Mike McCaul Urges House of Representatives to Appoint Speaker to Send Strong Message to U.S. Rivals Amid Escalating Middle East Crisis

On Sunday, Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed concern over the lack of an elected speaker in the U.S. House of Representatives. McCaul told CNN’s “State of the Union” that the absence of a speaker sends a “terrible message” to U.S. rivals amid the current crisis in the Middle East.

The House of Representatives has been without a speaker since the intraparty Republican fight over the next speaker was overshadowed by the Hamas attack on Israel. The attack has killed more than 700 people, including at least nine Americans, and the death toll from this weekend’s assault has topped 1,200 as the fighting continues.

McCaul said the leadership void in the House of Representatives is far from ideal under the current circumstances. He noted that it is an unprecedented moment that adds urgency to an already challenging week for fractured House Republicans as they try to agree on who should succeed Kevin McCarthy after ousting him from power six days ago.

The situation has been further complicated by Israel’s declaration of war against Hamas, launching strikes in Gaza that have killed hundreds more. McCaul said it was not his idea to oust the speaker, but he believes the House of Representatives needs a leader in order to effectively respond to the current crisis.

The House of Representatives remains leaderless as the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate. With the death toll rising, McCaul believes it is essential for the House to appoint a speaker in order to send a strong message to U.S. rivals and to effectively respond to the crisis.