Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has received an official endorsement from former President Donald Trump for the position of Speaker of the House. This endorsement comes ahead of the lawmakers’ return to the Capitol next week.
Jordan, who currently heads the House Judiciary Committee and is the founder of the House Freedom Caucus, is perceived as a favorite for the role by several House Republicans. This reaction comes after Kevin McCarthy was removed as Speaker. Jordan was the first to publicly declare his intention to succeed Rep. McCarthy.
In a recent post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump lauded the Ohio congressman. He wrote, “Congressman Jim Jordan has been a STAR long before making his very successful journey to Washington, D.C., representing Ohio’s 4th Congressional District.” Trump went on to highlight Jordan’s achievements, including his impressive wrestling record and his educational background.
The former president emphasized Jordan’s strong stances on crime, borders, the military, veterans, and the 2nd Amendment. He concluded his endorsement by stating that Jordan “will be a GREAT Speaker of the House” and has his “Complete & Total Endorsement.”
The race for the Speaker’s position sees Jordan and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) as the primary contenders. Both are vying for the crucial 218 votes needed to secure the role.
Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) was the first to bring attention to Trump’s support for Jordan. Nehls, after a conversation with Trump, expressed his full backing for Jordan as the next Speaker of the House. Nehls had previously suggested that Trump himself consider the Speaker role. Upon careful consideration, Trump expressed his unwavering endorsement of Jordan.
Interestingly, Trump had earlier hinted at the possibility of taking on the Speaker’s role, albeit temporarily, if the need arose. He mentioned that he would consider the position as a unifying figure, especially if the House faced challenges in deciding on a long-term candidate. This was particularly relevant given the historic ousting of Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on October 3, a first-of-its-kind event where the House voted to remove its Speaker.
Following this, McCarthy announced he would not be running for the Speaker role again and remained uncertain about his future in Congress.
In the interim, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) has been designated as the speaker pro tempore until a new Speaker is elected. Nehls, commenting on the situation, mentioned that if no current candidate manages to garner the necessary support, he will advocate for Trump to take on the Speaker role, emphasizing the current divisions within the conference and the country.
Trump had previously indicated plans to visit Washington to discuss the Speaker position with House Republicans. However, following his endorsement of Jordan, it seems unlikely that he will make the trip.
Jim Jordan has been a staunch ally of Trump, leading investigations into prosecutors who have charged the former president and challenging Trump’s election loss before January 6, 2021.
Similarly, Scalise has maintained a close working relationship with Trump over the years. The House is set to reconvene on October 10, with a candidate forum planned for the same day. The election for the new Speaker is scheduled for October 11.