Former President Donald Trump is endorsing Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio as the next Speaker of the House, following Kevin McCarthy’s departure. Trump expressed his full support for Jordan, stating that he has been a successful representative for Ohio’s 4th Congressional District even before his time in Washington, D.C.
The announcement came shortly after Texas Rep. Troy Nehls revealed that Trump had decided to back Jordan. Trump also mentioned his willingness to serve as an interim leader if Republicans were unable to agree on a successor after McCarthy’s removal as speaker.
Trump’s endorsement of Jordan showcases his influence over the Republican Party, as House Republicans are experiencing deep divisions and some have called for Trump to lead them. Trump had been discussing his preference for Jordan with others in recent days, but it remained uncertain whether he would make a public announcement before Nehls’ tweet.
Nehls, who had initially encouraged Trump to run for speaker himself, stated that Trump ultimately favored Jordan for the role. Nehls believes that Jordan is the right candidate for the job and emphasized that Congress should listen to the leader of the party.
Both Jordan and Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana are currently considered front-runners for the position of speaker. They are competing to secure the necessary 218 votes and require support from both the far-right and moderate factions of the party. It is unclear whether Trump’s endorsement will force Scalise, the current GOP majority leader, out of the race or if either candidate can reach the vote threshold.
If no candidate can gather enough support to win, Nehls expressed his intention to turn to Trump once again. He acknowledged the divided nature of the Republican conference and the fractured state of the country, making it uncertain who could secure the necessary votes.
Earlier in the day, Trump had been in talks to visit the Capitol Hill next week before the speakership vote, potentially scheduled for Wednesday. Trump confirmed to Fox News that he would travel on Tuesday to meet with Republicans. This visit would mark Trump’s first time at the Capitol since leaving office and since the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the building by his supporters.
Nehls, however, believes it is unlikely that Trump will make the trip following the endorsement.
Jordan has been a staunch supporter of Trump and has led investigations into prosecutors charging the former president. He was also involved in Republican efforts to overturn Trump’s defeat prior to the Jan. 6 attack.
Although Scalise has also worked closely with Trump over the years, it is uncertain if Trump’s visit would serve as an opportunity for him to pitch himself for the role of speaker.
Trump has continued to fuel speculation by stating that he would accept a short-term role as speaker if another candidate fails to secure the necessary votes. He expressed that he had been asked to speak as a unifier due to his numerous friends in Congress and his presidential campaign.
Trump assured that he would assist in the speaker selection process until a “GREAT REPUBLICAN SPEAKER” is chosen, who would collaborate with him in making America great again.
While many Republican members are generally supportive of Trump, it remains to be seen whether they would endorse him as speaker. The role requires significant attention to detail and knowledge of the legislative process, which Trump showed little interest in during his presidency.
Although there is no requirement for the speaker to be a member of the House, all 55 previous speakers have been elected from the chamber. On occasion, lawmakers have given their votes to candidates outside of Congress as a form of protest.
Trump had previously supported McCarthy in becoming speaker in January after a long voting process. However, he later urged Republicans to impeach President Biden and reject deals negotiated by McCarthy. Last month, he called on the right flank to support a government shutdown if deep spending cuts were not achieved.
McCarthy ultimately kept the government open without the demanded cuts, prompting Rep. Matt Gaetz to initiate efforts to remove him as speaker.
Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a strong Trump ally, had also pushed for Trump to become speaker and believed that he would accept the position.
Nehls, who has actively promoted Trump for speaker, stated that he had been contacted by multiple members of Congress willing to support and offer nomination speeches for Trump. He teased that big things would happen next week.
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