Topline Former President Donald Trump endorsed Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), one of his most vocal supporters in Congress, in the House Speaker race, following former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) dramatic ouster following a right-wing revolt within the Republican party.
FILE PHOTO: Donald Trump shakes hands with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as he disembarks from Air Force … [+] One.
AFP via Getty Images Key Facts In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump lavished praise on Jordan, saying he will be a “GREAT Speaker” and has the former president’s “Complete & Total Endorsement!”
Highlighting Jordan’s conservative credentials, Trump wrote he is “STRONG on Crime, Borders, our Military/Vets, & 2nd Amendment.”
The post then ran through Jordan’s resume, including the “Presidential Medal of Freedom” awarded to him by Trump and his high school and college sporting achievements as a wrestler.
Jordan is yet comment on Trump’s endorsement but Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) wrote on X that he “had a great conversation” with Trump about his endorsement of Jordan and “I believe Congress should listen to the leader of our party.”
Earlier in the evening, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, another close Trump ally, tweeted that she plans to nominate Trump for the speakership adding he “will be ready on day one to serve.”
Key Background Jordan has emerged as one of the two front runners to replace McCarthy as speaker along with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.). A few others, including Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), have indicated they may also join the race. Before endorsing Jordan, Trump himself indicated he would be open to accepting the gavel for “a short period of time and serve as a “unifier” for the Republicans. In an interview with Fox News, the former president clarified he was only offering to do it because he had been approached by Republicans and expected them to eventually pick a longer-term replacement for McCarthy.
Tangent Earlier this week, McCarthy became the first House Speaker in U.S. history to be ousted from the job. The ouster was the result of a revolt against him by a coalition of far-right members from within the GOP. At the time, Trump chided the House GOP members with a post on Truth Social asking why Republicans are always fighting among themselves instead of fighting “the Radical Left Democrats who are destroying our Country.”
Crucial Quote Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), who had previously run against McCarthy for the speakership and was reportedly eyeing another run tweeted his support for Jordan, writing: “Jim Jordan has my full support to become the next Speaker of the House! It’s time to get back to work for the American people.”
Further Reading Trump Says He’s Open To Short-Term Role As House Speaker To Act As ‘Unifier’ (Forbes)
Jim Jordan—Trump Ally, One Of Congress’s Most Conservative—Wants To Be Speaker. Here’s What You Need To Know About Him. (Forbes)