Trump becoming Speaker was bandied about before the last election.

That it is happening again under more dynamic circumstances and with a constraining rule set suggests the possibility of intention's role in this narrative's unfolding.

I'd not believe that Trump's/MAGA's plans require Trump to be Speaker as such is not a 100% controllable question ahead of time, but I could see this having been gamed out and the value of particular options/outcomes carefully evaluated.

Art of the Deal.