Staff Reports
Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) has taken to social media to poke fun at the House Republicans’ struggle to elect a speaker of the House. With the help of his friends, Collins has been posting colorful memes on X, formerly Twitter, to add some humor into the situation.
Collins started posting the memes on October 12, after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) was nominated for speaker but no floor vote had been scheduled. One of the memes depicted the Republicans shooting themselves and asking why Hakeem Jeffries should be the speaker. Although Scalise dropped out of the race without taking a vote to the floor, Collins continued his meme spree.
Rep. Mike Collins channels speaker battle frustration through memes 'with a little help' https://t.co/xqDSayNL2B
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) October 23, 2023
After Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) became the next GOP nominee, Collins posted a meme poking fun at Jordan’s failed first ballot. The meme read, “Marked safe from having a speaker today,” in reference to Facebook’s safety check feature. In another post, Collins suggested himself as the speaker, saying, “Speaker Collins is the only way out.”
Collins’ meme storm was inspired by his desire to bring some levity and humor into the situation. While acknowledging that the House speaker election is serious business, Collins believes that a little bit of humor can lighten the mood. He has received positive feedback from fellow Republicans who appreciate the break from the drama.
Despite the lighthearted nature of Collins’ memes, he understands the importance of electing a speaker and getting back to work. In the latest vote for a speaker, Jordan once again failed to meet the necessary vote threshold, leading to his withdrawal as the nominee. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s plans remain uncertain, and Republicans will reconvene on Monday for a speaker candidate forum after two unsuccessful attempts to elect a speaker.
