Jordan was the first House member to throw their hat in the ring.
Former President Donald Trump has officially endorsed Rep. Jim Jordan for House speaker, marking a significant shift in the race for the top job in the US House of Representatives. Jordan, a top Trump ally and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, was the first member to publicly support Trump for the position after Kevin McCarthy’s ouster led by hard-line Republicans. In a letter to his colleagues, Jordan stated that the Republican conference is at a critical crossroad in the nation’s history. President Joe Biden, who had previously supported Trump for the top spot in the House, steered clear of commenting on Jordan specifically, saying he would “try to work with” the next speaker.
Several House members have endorsed Trump for House speaker, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Anna Paulina Luna, Barry Moore, and Greg Steube. Trump told Fox News he would consider being speaker for a “short period” while Republicans find a permanent replacement. However, GOP conference rules may not allow Trump to hold the position, as a member of Republican leadership should step aside if indicted for a felony for which a sentence of two or more years imprisonment may be imposed, which would disqualify the former president.
House Republicans are slated to huddle behind closed doors for a conference meeting on Monday night, with plans for a candidate forum and a speaker election as early as Wednesday.
