Replacing Kevin McCarthy: 5 things to know about the race for House speaker
2. Former President Donald Trump declines to serve as speaker, endorses
While Jordan currently leads Scalise in the number of endorsements received by his colleagues, he has also secured an endorsement from one of the most influential voices in the Republican Party: former President Donald Trump. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social Friday, Trump touted Jordan’s career as a collegiate wrestler and as a lawmaker.
“He is STRONG on Crime, Borders, our Military/Vets, & 2nd Amendment,” Trump wrote. “He will be a GREAT Speaker of the House, & has my Complete & Total Endorsement!”
Trump’s endorsement of Jordan comes after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., worked to recruit the former president for the role of speaker. Greene sent out a post on Truth Social just hours after McCarthy’s ouster declaring, “The only candidate for speaker I am currently supporting is President Donald J. Trump,” adding, “We can make him Speaker and then elect him President!”
Although the former president appeared flattered by the suggestion and shared a picture of himself wearing a Make America Great Again hat and holding the speaker’s gavel on Truth Social, he only offered to take on the role of House speaker on a temporary basis. In a Thursday morning post on Truth Social, Trump vowed to “do whatever is necessary to help with the Speaker of the House selection process, short term, until the final selection of a GREAT REPUBLICAN SPEAKER is made.”
Rakich’s spreadsheet lists Greene as the only House Republican currently backing Trump for Speaker.
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
